Fig. 4

miR-124-3p derails blastocyst formation and global DNA methylation of embryos. a Real-time PCR analysis for miR-124-3p expression in control and miR-124-3p-AAV group embryos at the initiation (2-cells) and 60 h after transduction. Data represent the mean ± SD in replicates. Different superscripts indicate significance at p < 0.05 (one-way ANOVA with Duncan’s test). b Representative images of control and miR-124-3p-AAV group embryos at the initiation (2-cells) and 60 h after transduction. One representative image from six independent experiments is shown. Scale bar, 100 μm. c Bar charts showing the development rate of control and miR-124-3p-AAV group embryos 60 h after transduction. d, e Nanog staining (green signals) stands as an indicator of inner cell mass (ICM). Error bars represent the mean ± SD in replicates. ∗ p < 0.05 (Student’s t-test). f, g 5mC staining (red signals), as an indicator of global DNA methylation, was restricted to the nuclei of both trophoderm cells and ICM cells, demonstrating a severe reduction in the miR-124-3p-AAV group. Error bars represent the mean ± SD in replicates. **p < 0.01 (Student’s t-test). Scale bar: 20 µm