αB-crystallin expression in rat hearts heat-treated in vivo.

αB-crystallin expression in rat heart tissue decreased (P<0.01) at 20 min of heat stress compared to the control and then significantly increased (P<0.01) at 40 min of heat stress. After 60 min of heat stress, αB-crystallin expression levels decreased again (P<0.01) and remained at lower levels until 100 min of heat stress. However, the level of αB-crystallin in dead rats was much higher than those of the control and all other heat-stressed groups. ** P<0.01; *P<0.05.