HbSS-BERK mice were characterized by increased expression of COX-2 protein and increased COX-2 activity in DRGs compared with HbAA-BERK mice. (A) Digitized images of a western blot of COX-2 and β-actin in DRGs (25 µg of protein per sample). Immunoblots were probed with rabbit anti–COX-2 (1/500; Cayman Chemical) and visualized with a peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG; Amersham Biosciences). Mouse anti-actin (1:20 000; Sigma-Aldrich) immunoreactivity within each sample, visualized with peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG, was used as a loading control. Images of the bands were cropped from different parts of the same gel to optimize visualization of immunoreactivity (ir) and space. (B) Summary of quantitative analysis digitized images of immunoblots. The amount of COX-2 protein is the ratio of COX-2–ir to actin-ir within the same sample. Data were transformed to log₁₀ for parametric statistical analysis. (C) Activity of COX-2 was measured in 10 DRGs per mouse (L₂-L₆ bilaterally). Data were normalized to total protein within each sample and expressed as units of COX-2 activity per milligram of protein. Legend in panel C is common to panel B. Numbers in bars represent sample sizes. *Different from HbSS-BERK mice at P < .001; Student t test.