*2.2. Expression of mRNAs Encoding the Adhesion Molecules ICAM-1 and PECAM-1 in the Cremaster Muscle of Mice*

The expression of the mRNAs encoding ICAM-1 and PECAM-1 present on the vascular endothelium of the cremaster muscle of mice was evaluated in samples obtained at 30 min, 2, and 6 h after the injection of Jar, Jar-C or BnP1 using real-time PCR and compared with the nontreated control group (PBS). According to our results, the three toxins increased the expression of the mRNA encoding the cell adhesion molecule ICAM-1 at 30 min after toxin injection (Figure 2A).

**Figure 2.** Expression of mRNAs encoding the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 (**A**) and PECAM-1 (**B**) in cremaster muscle. Jar, Jar-C, BnP1 (0.5 μg/100 μL) or PBS (100 μL) was injected, and the muscle was isolated for total RNA extraction. Gene expression was quantified using real-time PCR. Graph bars show the relative expression of each mRNA compared with the PBS group after normalization to the housekeeping gene β-actin. The results are presented as the means ± S.E.M. of three independent experiments (*n* = 5) analyzed in triplicate. \* *p* < 0.05 compared to samples treated with the control, # *p* < 0.05 compared to the BnP1 group.

> The PECAM-1 mRNA expression pattern differed from that observed for ICAM-1. PECAM-1 was expressed later (6 h) (Figure 2B). At the early time points of 30 min and 2 h, the toxin-injected groups showed no significant differences from the control group. The profile induced by Jar-C showed a slight but significant difference compared to the PBS and BnP1 groups, as PECAM-1 expression decreased in the first 30 min (Figure 2B).
