Figure 1. Thrombospondin-4 (Thbs4) is induced at the mRNA and protein level in the rat bladder following urethral obstruction.

Rats were either sham-operated or obstructed for 10 days and 6 weeks, respectively. In one group of rats the obstruction was relieved for 10 days following 6 weeks of obstruction. Analysis of gene activity by microarray analysis (GSE47080, n = 6–8 at all times) demonstrated sizeable induction of Thbs4 (panel a). Independent confirmation by qRT-PCR of the up-regulation of Thbs4 is shown in panel b. Panel c shows immunoblotting (IB) for the Thbs4 protein in control and obstructed bladders. Two different size standards were used. Panel d shows summarized data on the Thbs4 protein at different times of obstruction. Means ± S.E.M. of 6–8 independent replicates are depicted in this and the following figures.