Expression of retinoic acid target genes and endogenous metabolites after infarction.

<p>Wild type C57Bl6 mice were subjected to <i>in vivo</i> ligation of the left coronary artery or sham surgery, and hearts were sampled serially for RNA extraction and amplification of retinoic acid target genes with real time PCR, or proteins were extracted for western blotting. Hearts were also sampled from mice without any surgery (preoperative). Gene expression of retinol binding protein 1 (RBP1) (<b>A</b>), aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A2 (ALDH1A2) (<b>B</b>), and cytochrome p45026B1 (CYP26B1) are shown (<b>C</b>). (n = 6–8 in each group at each time point). <b>D)</b> Representative western blot analysis of retinoic acid transporting and metabolizing proteins one week after induction of infarction or sham operation. Ponceau solution was used as protein loading (control). Histograms show the relative density of RBP1 at 16 kDa and ALDH1A2 at 53–57 kDa in infarcted and sham operated hearts. <b>E)</b> Endogenous retinoic acid metabolite concentrations were evaluated by triple-stage liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry one week after induction of myocardial infarction. The infarcted zone of the left ventricle (INF), the periinfarcted zone (PERIINF) and left ventricles from sham operated hearts (SHAM) were investigated (n = 6). Data are shown as mean±SD.