Fig. 4From: Dexamethasone induces an imbalanced fetal-placental-maternal bile acid circulation: involvement of placental transportersEffects of dexamethasone on the expression of fetal rat hepatic BA metabolic enzymes and rat placental bile acid transporters and nuclear receptors. The mRNA abundance of cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily A member 1 (Cyp7a1), cytochrome P450 family 27 subfamily A member 1 (Cyp27a1), and bile acid-CoA ligase (Bacl) in male (a) and female (b) fetal livers was measured by RT-qPCR. The mRNA expression of organic anion transporter polypeptide-related protein 2b1 (Oatp2b1), breast cancer resistance protein (Bcrp), organic anion transporter polypeptide-related protein 4a1 (Oatp4a1), and multidrug resistance-associated proteins 4 (Mrp4) in male (c) and female (d) placentas were measured by RT-qPCR. Immunohistochemistry for Oatp2b1, Bcrp, and Mrp4 (e) in paraffin-embedded placenta tissue sections (5 μm) from the control group and PDE group (magnification × 400). Scale bars 50 μm. n = 5 placentas from five pregnant rats, and three random fields of each section were scored. The corresponding anti-IgG served as non-specific controls (e), and quantitative fold changes of transporters expression were analyzed by ImageJ version 1.44. The mRNA expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in male and female (F) fetal placentas were measured by RT-qPCR. The protein expression of GR and FXR in male fetal placentas (g) were measured by western blotting. In each group, n = 11 livers and n = 11 placentas for qRT-PCR, n = 3 for western blotting. Data are presented as mean ± SD. *P < 0.05 vs. control. **P < 0.01 vs. control. PDE, 0.2 mg kg−1 day−1 dexamethasoneBack to article page