Fig. 1.

Demonstration of CNTFRα in the heart. (a–f) Immunohistochemistry with peroxidase staining performed on longitudinal (a and b) and transverse (c and d) sections of the heart showing the presence of CNTFRα in the heart. Double immunofluorescence staining for desmin (green) and CNTFRα (red) localized its presence to the myocyte (e). b, d, and f are negative controls omitting the primary antibody. (g) Western blot on isolated cardiomyocytes from C57BL/6 (wt), ob/ob and db/db mice confirming the presence of CNTFRα in the myocyte. Bands corresponding to the 60-kDa glycosylated and 40-kDa nonglycosylated portions of the receptor can be seen. Mouse brain (mb) was used as a positive control.