Figure 5: Expression and function of allatostatin-A receptor-like gene in S. japonicum (SjAlstR).

(a) The expression pattern of Fcomp1627_c0_seq1 in both sexes at 14–26 d.p.i. Red, female; blue, male (mean±s.e.m., n=3). (b) Whole-mount in situ hybridization of the SjAlstR gene in the female worm. n>3 parasites. Purplish blue regions indicate presence of the gene product. Scale bars, 100 μm. (c) Morphological changes in the female reproductive system after in vivo RNAi with blank, scrambled and SjAlstR shRNA plasmid. IO, immature oocyte; IV, immature vitelline cell; MO, mature oocyte; MV, mature vitelline cell. n>5 per experiment. Scale bar, 50 μm.