Figure 4
Regulation of glucocorticoid activity by 11β-HSD in the placenta. Downregulation of 11β-HSD2 (negative feedback enzyme) is induced by Cd in the rat placenta. The representative photographs for PCR or Western blots were from one of three independent experiments that yielded similar results. GAPDH was used as the loading control. (A) 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2 mRNA levels were analyzed by RT-PCR in the rat placenta. The expression of 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2 mRNA was compared between the control group and the 0.5 mg/kg Cd treatment group. *P < 0.01 compared with the control group. (B) Immunohistochemical staining of 11β-HSD2 protein in the labyrinth zone of placenta (original magnification ×400). (C) The expression of 11β-HSD2 was analyzed by Western blot in the rat placenta. *P < 0.01 compared with the control group.