Pax2 is persistently expressed by GABAergic neurons throughout the adult rat dorsal horn.

•Pax2 was expressed in neurons in all laminae of the dorsal horn in the adult rat.•GABA immunoreactivity was detected in essentially all Pax2+ neurons.•Pax2 immunoreactivity was detected in essentially all GABA+ neurons.•Pax2 is a robust somatic marker of inhibitory neurons in the adult rat dorsal horn.•Persistent Pax2 expression may be required to maintain a GABAergic phenotype.