Research Paper Volume 13, Issue 9 pp 13087—13107

Figure 2. Downregulation of mimecan expression in the adrenal glands during stress. (A) Northern blot analysis and quantified results confirming the expected increase in StAR gene expression in C57BL/6 male mice subjected to hypoglycemic stress and time-dependent reduction of mimecan gene expression in the adrenal glands of C57BL/6 male mice subjected to hypoglycemic stress (10 mice for each time point). (B) Mice were fasted for 12 h and injected with insulin (3 IU/kg). The 0 h group was not injected to avoid stress and served as a control. All other groups were compared with the 0 h group. (C, D) StAR and Mimecan mRNA levels in Y1 cells after insulin treatment detected by Realtime PCR showed no change compared with the control group that received no treatment. (E) Sections of adrenal glands hybridized with fluorescein-labeled StAR antisense probes. Positive signals (blue) were significantly increased compared with the sham operation control group (image obtained under visible light). (F) Analysis of mimecan expression by Northern blot analysis in scalded C57BL/6 male mice (15 mice per group), showing pronounced downregulation of mimecan mRNA in adrenal glands and no change in lung tissues. Data information: Data are expressed as means ±SEM. *p<0.05, **p<0.01 for stress treatment vs. control or 0 h group, Student’s t-test.