Figure 5.

Loss of c-Fos results in reduced taste cell differentiation and increased apoptosis. (a) Relative expression of indicated genes: c-Fos (P=0.0056), Krt8 (P=0.0252), Ki67 (P=0.0202), Dusp14, Hmox1, Dcn and Ivl in CV/Fol taste cells from WT and c-Fos-KO mice. Statistical significance was determined using Student's t test. Error bars denote S.D. of three independent experiments. (b) Immunohistochemical analysis shows the expression level of cleaved-PARP in the CV taste cells of WT and c-Fos-KO mice, 14 days after tamoxifen treatment. (c) qRT-PCR analysis of taste cell type markers Glast (type I), Tas1R3 (type II) and Snap25 (type III). Error bars denote S.D. of three independent experiments. *P<0.05; **P<0.01