Figure 3.

The expression of SERCA2b, an endoplasmic reticulum calcium transport pump protein, is reduced in cultured motor neurons from SBMA. (A) SERCA pump (SERCA2b) is responsible for replenishing endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ and the levels of the protein were quantified using western blot, using samples from at least three separate wild-type (WT) and AR100 purified cultured primary motor neuron cultures subjected to a 72 h 50 nM dihydrotestosterone (DHT) treatment. Antibodies against SERCA2b, and the loading control, actin. (B) The expression level of SERCA2b was quantified using densitometry and was 40% lower in AR100 primary motor neurons than in wild-type controls (n = 3, P = 0.04, t-test, n = number of replicate cultures). Error bars show the SEM. * P < 0.05. AU = arbitrary units.