Figure 1
The miR-204 is upregulated in db/db mice and promotes endothelial dysfunction. (a) The aortic expression of mature miR-204 in the db/+, db/+−204−/−, db/db, and db/db-204−/− mice. db/+: n = 8, db/+−204−/−: n = 4, db/db: n = 11, db/db-204−/−: n = 6. (b) The aortic expression of precursor (pri/pre) miR-204 in the db/+, db/+−204−/−, db/db, and db/db-204−/− mice. db/+: n = 4, db/+−204−/−: n = 3, db/db: n = 6, db/db-204−/−: n = 6. (c) In situ hybridization (ISH) for miR-204 in aortas (blue, magnification ×40, Scale bar; 10 µm). (d) Quantification of aortic miR-204 in ‘c’. “n(N)” for ‘d’ where ‘n’ represents the number of images and ‘N’ represents the number of mice. db/+: n = 4(2), db/+−204−/−: n = 2(2), db/db: n = 8(2), db/db-204−/−: n = 5(2). (e) The body weight of db/+, db/+−204−/−, db/db, and db/db-204−/− mice at the age 12 and 20 weeks (male ~50%). (f) Acetylcholine-mediated vascular relaxation of phenylephrine pre-contracted aortic rings isolated from db/+, db/+−204−/−, db/db, and db/db-204−/− mice. The experimental replicate is shown as “n(N)” where ‘n’ represents the number of aortic rings and ‘N’ represents the number of mice. db/+: n = 13(4), db/+−204−/−: n = 11(3), db/db: n = 21(7), db/db-204−/−: n = 12(4). (g) The blood glucose level of db/+, db/+−204−/−, db/db, and db/db-204−/− mice at the age of 12 and 20 weeks (male ~50%). (h) Ex-vivo inhibition of miR-204 rescues impairment of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in aortic rings isolated from db/db mice. The experimental replicate is shown as “n(N)” where ‘n’ represents the number of aortic rings and ‘N’ represents the number of mice. db/+−SC: n = 16(4), db/db-SC: n = 7(3), db/db-204 I: n = 6(3). A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s test was performed. The significance of the difference between two curves was analyzed by using global non-linear regression. ns>0.05, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001 vs. indicated group. The data are shown as mean, and the error bar represents s.e.m. Ach, acetylcholine; PE, phenylephrine.
