Journal: European Heart Journal

Article Title: Endothelial ZBTB16: a molecular shield against cardiac aging

doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf1063

Figure Lengend Snippet: Heterozygous Zbtb16 deletion induces a premature heart aging phenotype in young mice. ( A ) Quantification of Zbtb16 -positive endothelial cells in the heart of 3- to 4-month-old Zbtb16 +/+ or Zbtb16 +/− mouse hearts. Zbtb16 mRNA was visualized by RNAscope ( n = 3). Representative images are shown in Extended Data in . ( B–D ) Echocardiography in female ( n = 5 vs n = 5) and male ( n = 4 vs n = 6) Zbtb16 +/+ vs Zbtb16 +/− mice (3- to 4-month-olds). Data show diastolic function as E / E ′ ( B ) and left ventricular mass in mg ( C ). Systolic function as ejection fraction is shown in panel ( D ). ( E and F ) Quantification of Pico-Sirius red stained areas (interstitial fibrosis by sparing vessels) in heart sections of 3- to 4-month-old Zbtb16 +/+ and Zbtb16 +/− mice ( n = 8 vs n = 7). ( G ) Immunofluorescence images showing DAPI and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) were used to measure cell size in cardiomyocytes (CM) of Zbtb16 +/+ and Zbtb16 +/− mice. Quantification of the mean cardiomyocyte area is shown in the right panel ( n = 4 vs n = 3). ( H ) Senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining (CellEvent) of Zbtb16 +/+ and Zbtb16 +/− mouse hearts ( n = 3 vs n = 4). Quantification of SA-β-galactosidase-positive areas are shown in the right panel. ( I ) Ex vivo aortic ring assay of Zbtb16 +/+ and Zbtb16 +/− mice ( n = 3). Left panel indicate basal conditions. Right panel was stimulated with VEGFA. Quantification is shown in the right. ( J ) Capillary density [Isolectin B4 (IB4)] quantification in images of hearts of Zbtb16 +/+ and Zbtb16 +/− mice ( n = 3 vs n = 4). ( K–N ) Depletion of Zbtb16 in endothelial cells in 3- to 4-month-old Cdh5-Cre; Zbtb16 fl/fl ( Zbtb16 ΔEC mice) or Cdh5-Cre-negative littermates (Ctrl), which were treated with tamoxifen (8 weeks after start of treatment). ( K ) Representative images of Zbtb16 mRNA in capillaries (white arrow heads) as assessed by RNAscope in heart sections after 8 weeks of tamoxifen injection. DAPI and IB4 serve as counter stain. ( L–N ) Echocardiographic analysis of heart function ( n = 8 vs n = 11), 8 weeks after tamoxifen injection. Shown are diastolic function as MV E / E ′ ( L ) and systolic function as ejection fraction ( M ) and GLS ( N ) ( n = 8 vs n = 10). ( O ) Histological analysis of senescence using the CellEvent staining kit ( n = 5 vs n = 8). Data are shown as mean, and error bars indicate the standard deviation. P -value was calculated by two-tailed Student’s t -test or Mann–Whitney test ( E )

Article Snippet: Zbtb16-deletion mice (Strain ID: 066990-UCD) were purchased from UC Davis MMRRC (Los Angeles, CA, USA).

Techniques: RNAscope, Staining, Immunofluorescence, Ex Vivo, Aortic Ring Assay, Injection, Standard Deviation, Two Tailed Test, MANN-WHITNEY

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Differential retinoic acid responses across testicular development in vitro

doi: 10.64898/2025.12.30.696417

Figure Lengend Snippet: CIVMs derived from neonatal testis from PND 5 and PND 10 testis were exposure to isotretinoin for 24 hours. (A) Expression of Stra8 in PND 5 derived CIVMs determined by RT-qPCR. In the control, 0.3, 3, and 30 nM isotretinoin dose groups the expression of Stra8 contained samples below the threshold of quantification. The expression of Stra8 was significantly increased in the 300 nM isotretinoin dose group (p-value <0.0001). (B) Expression of Plzf in PND 5 derived CIVMs determined by RT-qPCR. All samples were above the threshold of quantification. The expression of Plzf in the 300 nM isotretinoin dose group was significantly lower than control (p-value of 0.026). (C) Expression of Stra8 in PND 10 derived CIVMs determined by RT-qPCR. Aside from one control sample, all samples were above the threshold of quantification. The expression of Stra8 was significantly increased in the 3,30, and 300 nM isotretinoin dose groups (p-values all <0.0001). (D) Expression of Plzf in PND 10 derived CIVMs determined by RT-qPCR. All samples were above the threshold of quantification. The expression of Plzf in the 30 and 300nM isotretinoin dose groups were significantly lower than control (p-values <0.0001).

Article Snippet: RT-qPCR was used to target the rat genes Stra8 (Rn01747849_m1) and Plzf (Rn01418644_m1).

Techniques: Derivative Assay, Expressing, Quantitative RT-PCR, Control

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Differential retinoic acid responses across testicular development in vitro

doi: 10.64898/2025.12.30.696417

Figure Lengend Snippet: The expression of Plzf and Stra8 quantified by RT-qPCR at day in vitro 4 and day in vitro 15 in PND 5 tissue CIVMs and PND 10 tissue CIVMs in control and media supplementation conditions. Color indicates day in vitro , dashed line divides plot by PND 5 CIVMs and PND 10 CIVMs. Points that are “X” indicate samples that were below the limit of quantification (cycle threshold of 37). Data displayed as expression relative to beta-actin (housekeeping gene (HK), (2^ [gene – HK])).

Article Snippet: RT-qPCR was used to target the rat genes Stra8 (Rn01747849_m1) and Plzf (Rn01418644_m1).

Techniques: Expressing, Quantitative RT-PCR, In Vitro, Control