Figure 4
Ovarian α 1d -AR mRNA and protein expression. As shown in panel A, α1d-AR mRNA expression was significantly higher in the PCO group than in control and EA group. EA significantly decreased the mRNA expression in the PCO+EA group compared with the PCO group. Values are given as means ± SEMs normalized to GAPDH. ap < 0.05 vs control group. The α1d-AR immunopositive cell number (Panel B) was not affect in the EA group when compared to control group. Significantly higher number of immunopositive cells of α1d-AR was found in the PCO group compared with the control group. EA treatment significantly decreased the number of immunopositive cells in the PCO+EA group. Values are given as means ± SEMs. ap < 0.05 vs control group. bp < 0.05 vs PCO group. Representative pictures showing ovarian distribution of α1d-AR expressing cells (pointed by arrows) are showed in Panels C-D. The α1d-AR was found expressed in the granulosa cells of healthy follicles (C) and corpora lutea (D) and around blood vessels (not shown) in all of the experimental groups. F: Follicle; gr: granulose cells; th: thecal layer. Magnification C-D: ×200.