Expression of perlecan was low in Hspg2−/−-Tg (without AD) aortic tissue. RNA and protein expression of perlecan in the aortic tissue of WT-Tg and Hspg2−/−-Tg mice was confirmed by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. (A) RT-PCR showed that perlecan mRNA expression was absent in the aortic tissue of Hspg2−/−-Tg mice. (B) Immunofluorescence staining showed that perlecan protein was expressed in the subendothelial basement membrane of WT-Tg (a,c,e,g) aortic tissue at 4 weeks and 10 weeks of age. We confirmed that perlecan protein expression was completely reduced in Hspg2−/−-Tg mice (b,d,f,h). (Scale bar = 100 µm (a,b,e,f), 50 µm (c,d,g,h)).