Figure 2. Induction of pathological intracellular signaling and inflammatory or fibrotic genes in female αMyHC Cre+/− ventricles at 6 months.
(A) MAPK phosphorylation status or MCIP1.4 and Calcineurin protein expression (immunoblot). (B) Inflammatory cytokine and fibrotic gene expression (qRT-PCR). (C) Histochemical assessment of fibrosis (Picrosirius Red stain) 10× magnification using either brightfield or polarized light microscopy. Picrosirius Red-positive area was quantified as a percentage of total tissue area. Error bars: SEM, N=4–6/group *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. age-matched and sex-matched WT control.