Fig. 8

Alterations of inflammatory status in female reproductive tissues linked MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. MAPKs and NF-κB signaling pathway activation was monitored based on changes in JNK, ERK1/2, p38 and NF-κB protein expression levels in conjunction with changes in their phosphorylation status. Western blot analyses indicated marked increases in protein expressions of both MAPK subfamily constituents and NF-κB downstream in the uterus (A and B) and oviduct (E and F, n = 6). Similarly corresponding rises also occurred in their phosphorylation levels in the uterine and oviduct tissues (A, B, E and F, n = 6) from obese mice in comparison to their ND counterpart. Meanwhile, the ERK1/2, p38, NF-κB levels and their phosphorylation status (p-ERK1/2, p-p38 and p-NF-κB) also dramatically increased in the ovary of the mice on a HFD mice, whereas no significant changes occurred in neither the JNK expression level nor its phosphorylation status (C and D, n = 6). Data were presented as mean ± SD (n = 6), *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01