Fig. 2. Spinal immunoreactivity to glial fibrillary acidic protein 7 days after spinal nerve ligation and effect of methylprednisolone. (A ) Lower magnification image showing the area of the dorsal horn analyzed. Astrocytic activation was not observed in normal (B ) or sham-operated rats (C ). Prominent astrocytic activation was observed in rats treated with systemic saline after spinal nerve ligation (D ). This response was remarkably inhibited in rats treated with continuous systemic methylprednisolone immediately after spinal nerve ligation (E ). Prominent astrocytic activation was also observed in rats treated with intrathecal saline after spinal nerve ligation (F ). This activation was remarkably inhibited in rats treated with continuous intrathecal methylprednisolone immediately after spinal nerve ligation (G ). Bar = 100 μm.