TLR4 upregulates CBS expression through NF-κB activation in a rat model of irritable bowel syndrome with chronic visceral hypersensitivity

Figure 4 Toll-like receptor 4 inhibition reduces the hyperexcitability of dorsal root ganglion neurons innervating the colon. A: DiI fluorescence (left) and bright-field (right), images of acutely dissociated DRG neurons. Colon-specific neurons are shown in red in the DiI-fluorescence image; B: The administration of CLI095 significantly hyperpolarized the RP of colon-related neurons (^bP < 0.01, vs NS); C: CLI095 treatment notably depolarized the AP threshold (^bP < 0.01, vs NS); D: CLI095 also markedly increased rheobase (^bP < 0.01, vs NS); E: CLI095 also significantly increased overshoot (^aP < 0.05, vs NS); F: CLI095 treatment significantly increased the response latencies to stimulation with 300 and 500 pA current ramps (^aP < 0.05, vs NS); G, H: CLI095 greatly decreased the number of APs evoked by 100, 300 and 500 pA current ramps (100 pA, ^bP < 0.01, vs NS, two-sample t-test; 300 pA, ^bP < 0.01 vs NS, two-sample t-test; 500 pA, ^aP < 0.05, vs NS, two-sample t-test). Bar = 50 μm. DRG: Dorsal root ganglion; NS: Normal saline; RP: Resting membrane potential; AP: Action potential.