Fig. 1. Specificity of the antibodies used in Western blot analysis. Effects of dexmedetomidine (Dex, 10−6m), N -methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA, 10−3m), and NMDA plus MK-801 (10−4m) on actin immunoreactivity ( panel 1 ) total extracellular signal–regulated protein kinase 1 and 2 immunoreactivity (tERK1 and tERK2; panel 2 ), biphosphorylated extracellular signal–regulated protein kinase 1 and 2 immunoreactivity (pERK1 and pERK2; panel 3 ), and with omitting the primary antibody ( panel 4 ).