FIG. 1.

Expression analysis of elastic fiber-associated molecules in the skin. A. Semiquantitative RT-PCR for elastin (eln) and elastic fiber-associated genes during postnatal development. Expression levels were normalized to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase expression (G3pdh). Each time point represents at least five animals. B, C. In situ hybridization of P8 skin with eln (B) and fbln5 (C) riboprobes. (B) Eln is expressed in the upper dermis around hair follicles (double arrows) and in the blood vessel wall (arrow). A single layer of elastin-expressing cells is seen at the base of dermis (arrowhead in B). (C) Fbln5 shows a similar expression pattern but is less intense in the upper dermis (double arrows). Strong expression is seen in dermal vessels (arrow). D, E. Immunohistochemistry of P8 skin. Elastin (D) and fibulin-5 (E) colocalized in the upper dermis (ud), dermal vessels (V), and in a layer adjacent to the panniculus carnosus muscle (arrowheads). Bars indicate 60 μm.