Fig. 6.

Alterations of intestinal gene expression patterns in Ostα−/− animals. The small intestine of female Ostα+/+ and Ostα−/− mice was divided into 3 sections of equal length. Total RNA was isolated, and expression levels of the indicated genes were subsequently determined by real-time RT-PCR. A: Asbt mRNA expression levels in the proximal, middle, and distal segments of the small intestine. Changes in Asbt expression in the Ostα+/+ and Ostα−/− mice are reported relative to β-actin. B: individual gene expression levels along the intestinal tract are reported relative to wild-type animals. Samples were analyzed in triplicate, and values are means ± SE, n = 4. *Statistically significant from Ostα+/+ animals, P < 0.05.