Fig. 3.

Localization of α-SMA and PCNA in gingival tissues from patients experiencing DIGE. a. Immunoreactivity for α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), the marker for myofibroblasts, in gingival tissues from healthy subjects (n = 6) and DIGE patients [nifedipine (n = 6) and phenytoin (n = 5)]. Sections were incubated with a primary antibody against α-SMA and detected using peroxidase-conjugate secondary antibody and DAB. All samples from both groups lacked α-SMA positive cells in the connective tissue, except in the smooth muscle of the blood vessel walls, which is the internal positive control for α-SMA (arrows). The inset shows α-SMA-stained myofibroma tissue, as the experimental positive control. b. To detect levels of cell proliferation, histological sections were incubated with a primary antibody against PCNA and detected using peroxidase-conjugate secondary antibody and DAB, in gingival tissues from healthy subjects and DIGE patients. Black arrowheads indicate PCNA-positive fibroblasts, in the connective tissues