Figure 3

Hormonal regulation of lung MK protein. A) Representative Western blots of MK expression in neonatal rat lungs after various treatments. B) Densitometry analysis confirmed that, in control animals, MK protein content was highest at PN5, with a 10.5-fold induction from day 1 (*p < 0.01, n = 3), and decreased thereafter (**p = 0.02 PN5 control vs. PN15 control, n = 3/group). In contrast, MK was significantly decreased in DEX-treated lungs at PN5 with a 3-fold reduction compared to the same day control animals (**p < 0.01, n = 3). An increase in MK similar to control animals was seen at PN5, but this increase was sustained up to PN10 in RA-treated animals being 1.5 fold higher than PN10 controls. Concomitant DEX+RA treatment resulted in a return of protein levels to that of control.