Maternal Separation Induces Long-Term Alterations in the Cardiac Oxytocin Receptor and Cystathionine γ-Lyase Expression in Mice

Figure 1

Immunohistochemical staining of Oxtr and CSE in the LV heart tissue in an Oxtr^-/- knockout heart and a wild-type heart (×10 and ×40). Expression of Oxtr was absent in Oxtr^-/- knockout heart (a, e) and clearly visible in wild-type myocardial tissue (b, f). CSE was significantly reduced in Oxtr^-/- knockout hearts (c, g) compared to wild-type tissue (d, h). Western blot of Oxtr^-/-, Oxtr^+/- knockout, and control hearts confirming the specificity of the Oxtr antibody. Oxtr protein expression was substantially reduced in Oxtr^-/- and Oxtr^+/- knockout heart tissue compared to controls (i). LV: left ventricular; Oxtr: oxytocin receptor; CSE: cystathionine γ-lyase.