# Cmpk2 Gene and Protein Expression in Saliva or Salivary Glands of Dyslipidemic Mice
## 3 Results
### CMPK2 Immunofluorescence Staining in the Submandibular Gland of Dyslipidemic Mice  
The macroscopic view and histological characteristics of the submandibular gland were observed and documented (Figure 6A). The presence of serous acini and mucous acini could be observed in the H-E staining of the submandibular gland (Figure 6B, n = 4). Immunofluorescence staining of the submandibular gland revealed that the intensity of _CMPK2_ protein in the A group (31.92 \(\pm\) 0.82; \(p\) < 0.0001, Student's \(t\)-test) at 9 w was higher than that of the C group (27.87 \(\pm\) 0.15) (Figure 7A,B, n = 4). In 46 w mice, the _CMPK2_ staining intensity demonstrated a gradual increase in the order of C\(-\) (28.57 \(\pm\) 0.61), C+ (31.60 \(\pm\) 1.19; \(p\) < 0.05 vs. C\(-\), one-way ANOVA with [PERSON]'s post-hoc test), and A\(-\) group (35.11 \(\pm\) 1.85; \(p\) < 0.05 vs. C+, \(p\) < 0.001 vs. C\(-\)) (Figure 7A,B, n = 4). Moreover, the expression of _CMPK2_ protein was predominantly localized in the serous acini. _CMPK2_ exhibited a more pronounced aggregation restriction in the serous demilune (Figure 7C).  
Figure 4: Quantitative biochemical analysis of serum lipid levels. (**A**) Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (T-CHO), and triglyceride (TG) levels in 9 w mice. (**B**) LDL-C, T-CHO, and TG in 46 w mice. Reference ranges: T-CHO (51–171 mg/dL), TG (29–150 mg/dL). Data are mean \(\pm\) SD (n = 3). ns: no significant difference, **\(p\) < 0.01, ***\(p\) < 0.001, ***\(p\) < 0.0001: Student’s \(t\)-test for 9 w mice, one-way ANOVA with [PERSON]’s post-hoc test for 46 w mice. **C**: C57 BL/6 mice, **A**: ApoE-deficient mice, **C**–: C57 BL/6 mice fed a normal diet, **C**+: C57 BL/6 mice fed a HFHC diet, **A**–: ApoE-deficient mice fed a normal diet.  
Figure 5: Cytidine/uridine monophosphate kinase 2 (_Cmpk2_) mRNA expression in saliva. (**A**) The expression of _Cmpk2_ mRNA in the saliva of 9 w mice was quantified using qRT-PCR and normalized to _Actb_. (**B**) The expression of _Cmpk2_ mRNA in the saliva of 46 w mice was detected by qRT-PCR, and then the relative expression of _Cmpk2_ in the saliva of the C+ group and A\(-\) group was compared with C\(-\). Data are mean \(\pm\) SD (n = 3). ns: no significant difference, **\(p<\)**0.01, **\(p<\)**0.001: Student’s \(t\)-test for 9 w mice, one-way ANOVA with [PERSON]’s post-hoc test for 46 w mice. **C**: C57 BL/6 mice, **A**: ApoE-deficient mice, **C\(-\)**: C57 BL/6 mice fed a normal diet, **C\(+\)**: C57 BL/6 mice fed a HFHC diet, **A\(-\)**: ApoE-deficient mice fed a normal diet.  
Figure 6: Macroscopic view of the submandibular gland and its histology. (**A**) Schematic view of the submandibular gland (position and morphology). (**B**) Hematoxylin-Eosin (H-E) staining of the submandibular gland (n = 4). D: duct (black arrow), SA: serous acini (white arrowhead), MA: mucous acini (black arrowhead). **C**: C57 BL/6 mice, **A**: ApoE-deficient mice, **C\(-\)**: C57 BL/6 mice fed a normal diet, **C\(+\)**: C57 BL/6 mice fed a HFHC diet, **A\(-\)**: ApoE-deficient mice fed a normal diet.