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Figure 4. Gene expression and myocardial histology in 6 months old wild type and Myh6-Mcm mice. (A) Transcript levels of a dozen genes analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction 6 months after induction of activation of the MerCreMer protein upon injection of tamoxifen for 5 consecutive days at 2 weeks of age. Transcript levels of Esr1, representing the transgene, remained significantly elevated at 6 months of age. Transcript levels of Abhd1 and Armcx4 were also modestly reduced. (B) Picrosirius red-stained thin myocardial sections in the 6 months old wild type and Myh6-Mcm (injected with tamoxifen) mice, showing no evidence of myocardial fibrosis. (C) Quantitative data of myocardial fibrosis presented as CVF. (D) Myocardial panels from 6 months old mice stained for the TUNEL assay. Rare nuclei stained for the TUNEL (green) were detected. Nuclei are shown in blue upon DAPI staining. (E) Quantitative data showing the percentage of nuclei stained for TUNEL. CVF: Collagen volume fraction; TUNEL: transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labeling.