Fig. 5From: Desmin gene expression is not ubiquitous in all upper airway myofibers and the pattern differs between healthy and sleep apnea subjectsLongitudinally sectioned muscle fibers from a patient showing the expression of desmin mRNA (A–C, red) and merged expression of desmin mRNA and desmin (DES) protein (red and green, respectively, D–F). A and D show a fiber with a presence of desmin mRNA in a typical striated pattern of DES. B and E show a fiber with a more irregular distribution of both mRNA and DES. C and F show a fiber with a segmental lack of immunoreaction for DES and its mRNA. Note that mRNA and the protein for desmin also are maldistributed and accumulated in these fibers (C and F). Scale bar = 25 µmBack to article page