Fig. 7. A study to assess if a blockade of the p38 MAP kinase by SB202190 can delay the CdCl₂-induced target protein losses from the sites of BTB and AJs in the testis during BTB damage. Normal rat testes (negative controls) (Ctrl), and testes injected with 1% DMSO in saline (vol/vol, intratesticular administration) followed by CdCl₂ treatment served as positive controls (CdCl₂/vehicle). For test groups (n=3-5 rats), testes of rats were pre-treated with 8 nmol SB202190 in 200 µl saline with 1% DMSO (i.e. 5 µM assuming a volume of 1.6 ml per testis), followed by CdCl₂ treatment (3 mg/kg b.w.i.p.) (CdCl₂ + SB202190), and rats were sacrificed 16 hours later. Lysates were prepared from these samples for immunoblotting with antibodies against occludin, ZO-1, N-cadherin, E-cadherin, ß-catenin, nectin-3, l-afadin, cathepsin L, ₂-MG, and TGF-ß3.