Figure 9.

Collagen I mRNA and protein expression. (a) Renal collagen mRNA expression was determined by real-time RT-PCR. Collagen Iα1 mRNA was analyzed as the ratio to GAPDH template and compared with the unligated kidney. Collagen I expression of the vehicle group is set as 1. A significant decrease of collagen Iα1 mRNA was found in BX471-treated animals (treatment from day 0 to 10) compared with vehicle-treated mice. (b) Levels of collagen I were determined by Western blot analysis. Protein extractions of two obstructed (UUO) and two unobstructed contralateral kidneys (CLK) of BX471-treated mice (lanes 1 and 2) were compared with vehicle controls (lanes 3 and 4). Note an increase of collagen I in UUO compared with CLK kidneys. Treatment with BX471 for 10 days reduced collagen I protein expression in UUO kidneys compared with control UUO kidneys.