1. Abnormalities of Prostaglandins and Cyclooxygenase Enzymes in Female Patients With Slow-Transit Constipation 
Ping Cong, Victor Pricolo, Piero Biancani, Jose Behar 
Gastroenterology 
Volume 133, Issue 2, Pages (August 2007)
DOI: /j.gastro
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2. Figure 1
(A) Typical tracing that illustrates the spontaneous phasic contractions of colonic muscle strips from control female patients (n = 4) and from female patients with STC (n = 4). (B) The motility index was reduced in patients with STC compared with controls. Values are means ± SE of 4 controls and 4 STC patients (*P < .001).
Gastroenterology  , DOI: ( /j.gastro )
Copyright © 2007 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions

3. Figure 2
PG levels in human colonic circular muscle cells from controls (n = 4) and from patients with STC (n = 4). (A) PGF2α and (B) TxB2 levels in colonic muscle cells from patients with STC were lower than in control subjects (*P < .001 and **P < .01, respectively). (C) However, the levels of PGE2 were higher in patients with STC than in controls (#P < .01). Values are means ± SE.
Gastroenterology  , DOI: ( /j.gastro )
Copyright © 2007 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions

4. Figure 3
Expression of COX enzymes in colonic circular muscle cells from controls (n = 4) and from patients with STC (n = 4). The density of the bands and OD values of COX-1 protein expression are lower and those of COX-2 are higher in muscle cells from patients with STC than in controls (*P < .01, **P < .001). Values are means ± SE.
Gastroenterology  , DOI: ( /j.gastro )
Copyright © 2007 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions

5. Figure 4
mRNA values of COX-1 and COX-2 determined by real-time PCR using specific primers (sense and antisense). COX-1 mRNA was lower in patients with STC (n = 4) than in control subjects (c) (n = 4) (*P < .001). The COX-2 mRNA was significantly higher in patients with STC than in control subjects (**P < .0001). Values are means ± SE.
Gastroenterology  , DOI: ( /j.gastro )
Copyright © 2007 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions

6. Figure 5
(A) Western blot illustrating the expression of progesterone receptors of controls (c) (n = 3) and patients with STC (n = 4). (B) The expression of PG receptors is higher in patients with STC than in controls (P < .01). Values of the PG receptor/GAPDH ratios are means ± SE. GAPDH protein was determined as internal standard.
Gastroenterology  , DOI: ( /j.gastro )
Copyright © 2007 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions

7. Figure 6
(A) Typical example of RT-PCR analysis showing that progesterone receptors were detectable at 500 base pairs using a specific primer (sense and antisense). The signal of progesterone receptors was increased in patients with STC compared with controls (n = 4). (B) Progesterone mRNA values detected by real-time PCR were higher in colonic muscle cells from patients with STC than in controls (*P < .01, n = 4). OD values are means ± SE of mRNA of PG receptors/GAPDH ratios. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA was determined as an internal standard.
Gastroenterology  , DOI: ( /j.gastro )
Copyright © 2007 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions

8. Figure 7
Effect of progesterone treatment on the levels of PGs in normal colonic circular muscle cells. Progesterone at 10−5 mol/L decreased PGF2α and TxB2 levels (A and B, *P < .001) and increased PGE2 levels (C, **P < .01). Values are means ± SE (n = 4).
Gastroenterology  , DOI: ( /j.gastro )
Copyright © 2007 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions

9. Figure 8
(A) Typical Western blot analysis showing the effect of progesterone at 10−5 mol/L on COX-1 and COX-2 protein expression in normal colonic circular muscle cells. (B) Progesterone treatment decreased COX-1 protein (*P < .01) and increased COX-2 protein expression (#P < .01). OD values are means ± SE (n = 4).
Gastroenterology  , DOI: ( /j.gastro )
Copyright © 2007 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions

10. Figure 9
mRNA levels of COX-1 and COX-2 determined by real-time PCR in normal colonic circular muscle cells. Progesterone at 10−5 mol/L decreased COX-1 and increased COX-2 mRNA levels (*P < .01 and **P < .001, respectively). Values are means ± SE (n = 4).
Gastroenterology  , DOI: ( /j.gastro )
Copyright © 2007 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions

11. Figure 10
Effect of COX inhibitors on PG levels in normal colonic circular muscle cells. The COX-1 inhibitor SC560 decreased PGF2α and TxB2 levels (A and B, *P < .001) without affecting PGE2 production. In contrast, COX-2 inhibitor NS398 blocked PGE2 production (C, **P < .001), without altering PGF2α and TxB2 levels. Both inhibitors had no greater effect than a single inhibitor (#). Values are means ± SE (n = 4) (* and **P < .001).
Gastroenterology  , DOI: ( /j.gastro )
Copyright © 2007 AGA Institute Terms and Conditions