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Fig. 1. Time course of MAPK phosphorylation by phenylephrine (PHE) in the amphibian
heart. ERK (Ai), JNK (Bi) and p38-MAPK (Ci) phosphorylation was assessed by
western immunoblotting in samples (50 µg, 100 µg and 100 µg of
protein, respectively) from control (C) Rana ridibunda hearts and
hearts perfused with 50 µmol l-1 PHE for the times indicated,
using the respective phospho-specific antibodies. Total (phosphorylation
state-independent) levels of ERK, JNK1 or p38-MAPK were also assessed using
respective antibodies, as described in Materials and methods (Aii-Cii).
Western blots are representative of three independent experiments. Bands were
quantified by laser scanning densitometry and plotted (Aiii-Ciii). Values are
means ± S.E.M. for the relative time points (N=3 separate
heart perfusions at each time point). Values significantly different from
controls: *P<0.05, **P<0.01,
P<0.001.