Fig. 1.
mRNAs encoding proteins associated with inflammation are upregulated following injury. The left carotid artery was ligated in 8–10 wk old male C57BL/6J mice, and tissues were harvested 3 days later. Total RNA was isolated from the left injured artery and the right uninjured control artery as well as from control carotid arteries obtained from mice that had not undergone carotid ligation. For each sample 6 injured, 6 contralateral control, and 6 uninjured, control arteries were pooled before RNA extraction as described in materials and methods. mRNA expression levels were analyzed by quantitative (q)RT-PCR, and data presented are expressed relative to vessels obtained from control mice after normalization to an Hprt internal control (RQ = 2-ΔΔCt, where ΔΔCt = (Experimental; Ct gene – Ct hprt) – (control nonsurgical; Ct gene – Ct hprt); n = 3–5. *P < 0.05. NS, nonsurgical control; 3D control, contralateral control carotid; 3D injured, ligated carotid 3 days following ligation.