Figure 4

Organ-specific expression of TNFα mRNA and protein in transgenic and non-transgenic rats. Two bar graphs show aggregate rat and mouse TNFα mRNA (Panel a) or protein (Panel b) in brain homogenates prepared from transgenic animals and non-transgenic (non-Tg) littermates (n = 3 in each group). A third bar graph (Panel c) shows TNFα protein levels in three brain compartments, various external organs, and randomly obtained serum samples from a second set of transgenic and non-Tg animals (n = 3 in each group). No animal was subjected to ischemic brain injury. In Panel a, the mean ± SD level of TNFα mRNA was significantly higher in transgenic rats (p ≤ 0.01; unpaired t test). The mean TNFα protein level was also significantly elevated in transgenic animals, as shown in Panel b (p ≤ 0.01; unpaired t test). When TNFα protein was surveyed in multiple organs and in serum, its content in cortex and brainstem was at least fivefold higher than in non-Tg animals (p ≤ 0.001; ANOVA/Fisher's test). **p ≤ 0.01; ***p ≤ 0.001