Fig. 3.
Numbers of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) mRNA-expressing cells, detected by in situ hybridization with 35S-labelled synthetic oligonucleotide probes, per 100 mm2 submandibular gland tissue sections (a), and per 105 spleen mononuclear cells (MNC) (b), of MRL/lpr mice and BALB/c mice at 2, 3, 4 and 5 months of age. Each column indicates mean value of five mice and bars indicate s.d. Levels of significance for differences between MRL/lpr mice and age-matched control BALB/c mice: *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001. There were significantly higher numbers of TNF-α mRNA-expressing cells both in submandibular glands and among spleen MNC in MRL/lpr mice compared with control BALB/c mice at 3, 4 and 5 months of age. Peak numbers of submandibular gland TNF-α mRNA-expressing cells occurred at 3 months of age, while peak numbers of TNF-α mRNA-expressing spleen MNC were registered at 4 months of age.