Figure 4.

Protein expression of numerous paracellular junction genes was decreased in iron-loaded primary rat hepatocytes. Primary rat hepatocytes were maintained for 7 days in control medium, after which, cultures were maintained in either control medium or medium supplemented with 20 μmol/L of TMH-ferrocene. After 21 days of treatment, control and TMH-ferrocene-treated cultures were harvested for protein and subjected to immunoblot analysis. A: Blots were analyzed for E-cadherin, β-catenin, occludin, connexin32, caveolin, and ferritin expression. B: The percent expression of each paracellular junction protein analyzed in TMH-ferrocene-treated (TMHF) cultures compared to control cultures.