FIG 4.

TDF gel does not induce significant changes in mitochondrial RNA or DNA or in expression of structural proteins. RNA was extracted from genital tract tissue harvested 3 or 7 days after twice-daily gel dosing, reverse transcribed to cDNA, and analyzed using qPCR for expression of mitochondrial proteins (A) and structural proteins (C). Data are presented as means plus standard errors of the means relative to untreated mice, with 6 to 8 mice per group. In addition, the relative ratio of mitochondrial to nuclear DNA was analyzed in HEC- and TDF-treated mice (B). Asterisks indicate significance from untreated mice or between the TDF and HEC treatment groups where indicated (TJP-1, day 3), using one-way ANOVA with Tukey's test for multiple comparisons (P < 0.05).