Figure 3. Gene and protein expression of P2Y_2,4 receptors in the rat urinary bladder.

Expression of P2Y₂ (A, upper panel) and P2Y₄ (B, upper panel) receptors in urothelial (UT1-3), detrusor smooth muscle (SM1-3) and whole bladder (WB1-2) protein lysates was assessed using western blotting; whole rat brain (RB) protein lysate was used as positive control for antibody binding. Immunoblotted proteins corresponding to P2Y₂ (60 kDa) and P2Y₄ (85 kDa) were detected. P2Y₄ immunoblotting was only detected in 1/3 rat urinary bladders tested. Relative expressions of P2Y₂ (A, lower panel) and P2Y₄ (B, lower panel) mRNA in the urothelium and detrusor smooth muscle compared to β-actin; n=3 rats was assessed using quantitative PCR. UT = urothelium; SM = smooth muscle.