Figure 3
Expression of steroidogenic enzymes in placental tissue. The expression of steroidogenic enzymes in placental tissue was detected in the 0.5 mg/kg Cd treatment group. The representative photographs for PCR or Western bolt were from one of three independent experiments that yielded similar results. GAPDH was used as the loading control. (A) Simplified scheme of the rat glucocorticoids biosynthesis pathway. Detection of steroidogenic enzyme gene expression by RT-PCR in rat adrenal gland or placenta. Comparison of the expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the rat placenta. *P < 0.05 compared with the control group. (B) Immunohistochemical localization and expression of CYP11B enzymes in the labyrinth zone of rat placenta (original magnification X400). (C) Comparison of the expression of CYP11B1 protein levels in the rat placenta based on Western blot. *P < 0.01 compared with the control group.