Fig. 4

miR-145 inhibits Abca1 expression and thereby increases cholesterol levels within embryos. A, B Abca1 expression at the mRNA level in blastocysts was assessed following overexpression of miR-145 in oocytes. Data are presented as means ± s.d. from five independent experiments (total number of blastocysts analyzed: n = 241 for control, 239 for miR-ctr, 226 for miR145 mimic and 229 for miR145 mu). B, C Representative western blot analysis for ABCA1 accumulation in blastocysts obtained from each groups (100 embryos per lane). One representative of three independent experiments is shown (B). Data are shown as medians with ranges. D miR-145 was associated with significantly increased cholesterol levels. Data are presented as means ± s.d. from five independent experiments (total number of n = 228 for control, n = 222 for miR-ctr, n = 212 for miR145 mimic and n = 218 for miR145 mu)