Figure 5

Suppressing PERK expression in vivo blocked female reproductive disorders induced by cold exposure. PERK or its control siRNA were given to the female mice by intraperitoneal injection (i.p) followed by exposing to cold stress. (A–F) The ovaries of the mice in each group were collected and subjected to western-blot assay (A) or ELISA (F) to detect the changes on PERK/NRF2/CX43/StAR/progesterone pathway activation. The quantitative results of PERK levels (relative to β-actin), NRF2 activation (p-NRF2 relative to total NRF2), CX43 and StAR levels (relative to β-actin) were shown in (B–E). The changes on serum levels of progesterone were shown in (F) (n = 6, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001). (G,H) The distribution of the estrous cycles of the mice in each group was detected in the following 3 weeks (G). And the average cycle length of mice in each group was shown in (H) (n = 10, ***p < 0.001). (I,J) The ovaries of the mice in each group were collected and subjected to HE staining. The follicles categorization was performed and the percentage of atretic follicles in the total follicles was calculated (n = 6, ***p < 0.001).