FIG. 3.

Infection of canine urothelium with E. coli promotes phosphorylation of STAT3. After a 5-h treatment in Ussing chambers with normal Ringer's solution (NR) or uropathogenic E. coli J96 (1 × 10⁸ CFU/ml), canine bladder mucosae were immunoblotted for phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3), total STAT3, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) (protein loading control). E. coli significantly increased the phosphorylation of STAT3 compared to uninfected tissue (normal Ringer's solution). Densitometric data represent relative fold increases in pSTAT3 compared to total STAT3. ***, P < 0.001 (n = 4 dogs each).