Figure 5
Effects of caveolin 1-deficiency on eNOS and alpha-1 adrenergic receptors. (a) Representative immunoblot of WT (n = 6) and Cav1-deficient (Cav1−/−; n = 6) kidney lysates detected by antibodies to endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and β-actin as loading control; indicated molecular weights are approximate. (b,c) Representative confocal images of interlobar arteries showing increased endothelial eNOS signal (green) in Cav1−/− (n = 4) compared to WT kidneys (n = 4). (d,e) Vasa recta also show an enhanced eNOS signal in Cav1-/- kidney. Nuclei are counter-stained with DAPI (blue). (f,g) Quantification of confocal eNOS signals in interlobar arteries (IA) and vasa recta (VR) by intensity. (h) Densitometric quantification of eNOS immunoblots shown in A, normalized to loading controls. (i) Evaluation of alpha-1 adrenergic receptor mRNA expression in WT vs. Cav1−/− kidneys using quantitative PCR. Data is expressed as the mean values ± standard deviations, *p < 0.05 (Student’s t test for normal distribution); WB – Western blot, IF – immunofluorescence.
