NMDAR2B/PKA/CREB signaling pathway contributes to esophageal neuropathic pain in gastroesophageal reflux disease

Figure 5 Results of Western blot of N-methyl-D-aspartate pathway-related proteins in the cingulate gyrus of rats in each group. A: Relative expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) pathway proteins in the cingulate cortex among different groups of rats (n = 6). Data are presented as mean ± SD; B: Relative expression of NMDA pathway proteins in the cingulate gyrus of rats in each group [1: Model; 2: Control; 3: Model + NMDA receptor (NMDAR) agonist; 4: Model + NMDAR antagonist; 5: Model + protein kinase A (PKA) antagonist; 6: Model + NMDAR antagonist + PKA agonist]. ^aP < 0.001, model group vs control group. ^bP < 0.05, ^cP < 0.01, ^dP < 0.001, model + NMDAR agonist group, model + NMDAR antagonist group, model + PKA antagonist group vs model group. ^eP < 0.05, ^fP < 0.001, model + NMDAR antagonist + PKA agonist group vs model + NMDAR antagonist group. NR/NMDAR: N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor; PKA: Protein kinase A; CREB: cAMP-response element binding protein; BDNF: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor.