Figure 7

(A) COMT microarray (regression p = 0.025) and (B) qPCR mRNA results (p = 0.018) reveal a subtle pattern of early high COMT expression. The neonatal group had mRNA levels 35-60% higher than all other age groups (p ≤ 0.001-p ≤ 0.05). (C) A representative Western blot gel depicts two bands at ~30 kDa & ~24 kDa of COMT protein that is consistent with both membrane bound (32 kDa) and the soluble form (24 kDa); N = Neonate, I = Infant, T = Toddler, S = School Age, Ad = Adolescent, Y = Young Adult, A = Adult. (D) The COMT protein results follow a pattern similar to the mRNA data with higher expression early in life that gradually declines over time but was not statistically significant. * p ≤ 0.05.