Figure 4

Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction results for differential expression of Oct-4 and Sox-2 in normal pancreas and after pancreatectomy. Equal amounts of RNA samples, isolated from normal pancreas and on days 1 and 5 after pancreatectomy, were subjected to reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for pluripotent markers (Oct-4 and Sox-2) and Oct-4 (inclusive of all transcripts including Oct-4B, which is expressed in immediate descendants of very small embryonic-like stem cell ‘progenitors’ when they initiate differentiation) and housekeeping gene transcript glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Gapdh). RT-PCR products are electrophoresced for day 1 post pancreatectomy in lanes 1 and 2, for day 5 post pancreatectomy in lanes 3 and 4, and for normal pancreas in lanes 5 and 6; negative control in lane 7. Despite Gapdh being relatively higher in normal pancreas, expression of Oct-4A, Sox-2 and Oct-4 is maximal on day 5. Results are in agreement with our histology and immunolocalization data showing migration of stem cells into the pancreas on day 5.