ER stress and ER stress-induced apoptosis are activated in gastric SMCs in diabetic rats

Figure 1 Body weight of each rat measured at the first, 4^th, 8^th and 12^th week. There was no difference in body weight between the diabetic group and control group during the first week. At the 4^th wk, the body weight of diabetic rats significantly decreased compared with rats in the control group. ^bP < 0.01 vs the control group.

Figure 2 Gastric smooth muscle cells examined under a transmission electron microscope (TEM, original magnification × 10000). A: Control group: No alterations in ER were observed (white arrow); B: Diabetic group: Swollen and distended endoplasmic reticulum with an irregular shape was observed in diabetic rats (white arrow).

Figure 3 Apoptosis of gastric smooth muscle cells detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay in diabetic and control rats. A: Control group; B: Diabetic group. DAB staining, light microscopy, original magnification × 400.

Figure 4 Immunohistochemical staining of glucose-regulated protein 78 protein in gastric smooth muscle cells of diabetic and control rats. A: Negative staining control. B: Control group. C: Diabetic group. DAB staining, light microscopy, original magnification × 200.

Figure 5 Immunohistochemical staining of caspase-12 protein in gastric smooth muscle cells of diabetic and control rats. A: Negative staining control. B: Control group. C: Diabetic group. DAB staining, light microscopy, original magnification × 200.

Figure 6 Comparison of the expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 and caspase-12 proteins in gastric smooth muscle cells between the diabetic and control groups. Glucose-regulated protein 78 and caspase-12 protein expression was semiquantified by immunohistochemistry as shown in the Methods section. Results are expressed as mean ± SE. ^aP < 0.05 vs the control group.