Dietary Cholesterol-Induced Post-Testicular Infertility
Figure 7
Transdifferentiation of SMC is associated with matrix-metalloprotease-9 (Mmp-9) expression.
Immunoperoxidase staining of Mmp-9 in caput epididymidis segment 1 of (A) 9-month-old wt (upper left picture) or lxrα;β−/− mice and (B) 4-month-old lxrα;β−/− mice fed 1 month with the control diet (upper left panel) or the high-cholesterol diet. Arrowheads indicate Mmp-9 positive cells in 4-month-old lxrα;β−/− mice. Scale bars represent 10 µm, n = 3. (C) Relative Mmp-9 protein levels in the caput epididymidis from wt and lxrα;β−/− mice at 4, 6 and 9 months of age. Bar graphs display means ± SEM using β-actin as an internal standard for quantification, n = 3, **p<0.01; ***p<0.001. (D) Relative protein levels of Mmp-9 in the caput epididymidis of 4-month-old wt or lxrα;β−/− animals fed a control or High-cholesterol diet for 4 weeks. Bar graphs display means ± SEM using albumin (Ponceau red) as an internal standard for quantification, n = 3.