Time course of cytokine overexpression following limb ischemia in mice. Although IL-3 was not affected by induction of ischemia by femoral artery dissection, IL-6 and to a lesser extent M-CSF mRNAs were induced over the levels in sham-operated animals starting at day one following ischemia. (A) RNAse protection assay using RNA from nonischemic and ischemic adductor muscles at day 0 and 6 hours, 1 day, and 3 days following ischemia. (B-C) Quantification of M-CSF and IL-6 expression by densitometer analysis. Data are expressed as fold induction compared with nonischemic muscle. Error bars indicate standard errors.