Fig. 3.

mBD-3 mRNA expression in the upper digestive mucosa in stressed and non-stressed mice. Real-time PCR results for mBD-3 expression in gingival (n=4) (A), esophageal (n=4) (B), and stomach (n=4) (C) tissue from stressed and non-stressed mice. The results are represented as mean±SD values. Statistical comparisons were made individually (between stressed and non-stressed mice); significant differences were seen between the 2 groups for the mBD-3 mRNA expression in the esophagus but not in the gingiva or stomach (p<0.05). mBD-3, mouse β-defensin-3; PCR, polymerase chain reaction.