Predisposition of Neonatal Maternal Separation to Visceral Hypersensitivity via Downregulation of Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel Subtype 2 (SK2) in Mice

Figure 3

SK2 protein expressions in the membrane fraction, SK2 mRNA, and were reduced in mice with neonatal MS. (a) Spinal SK2 protein in the membrane fraction presented a significant decrease in mice with the neonatal MS versus control mice (-test, , , per group). (b) There was no difference in total spinal SK2 channel protein in mice with the neonatal MS versus control mice (-test, , , per group). (c) Consistently, there was also no difference in total spinal SK2 mRNA in mice with the neonatal MS versus control mice (-test, , , per group). (d) There was no difference in the number of SK2+ neurons in the spinal dorsal horn between the two groups (-test, , , per group). (e) SK2 channel immunostaining,  μm. (f) Schema of patch-clamp recording. (g, h) The average peak amplitude of in the neonatal MS mice was significantly reduced versus that in the control mice (-test, , , neurons/5 mice per group). (i, j) The spontaneous neuronal firing rates in the spinal DH increased significantly in the neonatal MS mice versus the control mice (-test, , , neurons/5 mice per group). Data are expressed as , .

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