Loss of <i>Nrp1</i> in SMC affects the expression of markers of contractile phenotype.

Abstract

<p>(A) qPCR analysis of SMC contractile phenotype markers, <i>smMHC</i> (n = 5) and <i>Sm22-alpha</i> (n≥3), on colonic samples from mice ≥16 months old: means±SD; *<i>P</i><.05, **<i>P</i><.005, ***<i>P</i> = .0005. (B) smMHC/SMA immunohistochemistry in colonic tissue from ≥16 months old mice. (C) Semi-quantitative RT-PCR for the SMA and SMB <i>smMHC</i> isoforms in whole colon cDNA from ≥16 month-old mice. Representative results are shown from 3 mice (<i>Nrp1^fl/+</i>, n = 4; <i>Nrp1^+/−</i>, n = 6; <i>Nrp1^SMKO</i>, n = 6; *P = .04). (D) Immunofluorescent staining of SK3 and SMA in colons of ≥16 months old mice shows enhanced expression of SK3 in the colonic SMC (arrows) of <i>Nrp1^SMKO</i> compared to <i>Nrp1^+/−</i> controls. (E) Western blot of SK3 expression in colon lysates from ≥16 month-old mice. Densitometric quantification of SK3 was normalised to beta-actin expression: means±SD; *<i>P</i> = .0233, n = 4.</p