Fig. 5

Changes of oocyte function in fetal ovary induced by prenatal prednisone exposure (PPE) with different doses or at different time. (A-L) mRNA expression of NOBOX, Figlα, Smad4, Sohlh2, BMP15, and GDF9; (M) Protein expression of MVH by IF (the MVH positive cells were stained by red, 400 ×, n = 5). Mean ± S.E.M., n = 12. ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01 vs. control. GAPDH, glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase; NOBOX, endogenous retroviral envelope genes; Figlα, factor in the germ line; Smad4, SMAD family member 4; Sohlh2, Spermatogenesis and oogenesis basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor 2; BMP15, bone morphogenetic protein 15; GDF9, growth and differentiation factor 9; C1, control of PH; PL, prednisone low-dose exposure; PH, prednisone high-dose exposure; C2, control of PE; PE, prednisone early high-dose exposure; C3, control of PT; PT, prednisone terminal high-dose exposure; MVH, mouse vasa homolog; DAPI, 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole