Fig. 1

Schematic description of the neuropathic pain model and tissue preparation for MALDI MSI. A Neuropathic pain was induced in rats with lumbar 5 (L5) spinal nerve ligation (SNL). Prior to SNL surgery, rats were subjected to a von Frey filament test for baseline (> 10 g) on day 0. Following surgery, the von Frey test was repeated on day 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, and 14. On day 14, the brain and spinal cord were harvested for immunohistochemistry, mRNA analysis, and MALDI MSI. B Sample preparation for N-glycan measurement and analysis via MALDI MSI. Detailed methods for sample preparation are described in the “Materials and methods” section