Figure 1 Serum response factor (SRF) gene therapy promotes expression of SM α‐actin in oesophageal ulcers. (A) Reverse transcription PCR analyses showing specific transient expression of SRF transgene (SRF‐myc) in the rats that were injected with the SRF expression plasmid (SRF+) and specific expression of antisense SRF fragment (T₇‐aSRF) in the rats that received antisense SRF (SRF−) plasmid. β‐Actin was used as an internal control. M, Molecular marker. (B) Western blot analyses showing a His‐tagged SRF protein product in the rats that were injected with the SRF+ plasmid in parallel with the increased total SRF protein concentrations in these rats, reduced local SRF protein concentrations in the rats that received SRF− plasmid, and their corresponding effects on expressions of smooth muscle (SM) α‐actin and smoothelin. (C) Quantification of SM α‐actin protein expression after gene therapy based on 10 replicates. *p<0.01. Error bars represent SD.