The mRNA expression levels of top-ranking candidate genes in a mouse AAA model.

<p>(A) Representative morphology of NaCl- and CaPO₄-treated mice aortas. (B) The maximum diameter of abdominal aortas. (C) Representative Gomori staining, arrows showing elastin degradation. (D) Representative immunofluorescence (green) staining of IL-6 (left) and MCP-1 (right) in infrarenal aortas of mice treated with NaCl or CaPO₄. Nuclei were counterstained with Hoechst (blue). (E) mRNA was extracted from the aortas of both NaCl- and CaPO₄-treated mice, and the gene expression levels of APP, TP53, SPARC, MMP-14 and ITGB1 were assayed by Real-Time PCR. 18S was used as reference gene. Scale bar = 20 μm.