Research Paper Volume 10, Issue 3 pp 463—480

Figure 5. Effect of melatonin on oocyte-specific transcription factors Figla, Nobox, Sohlh2 and Lhx8, which known to be critical for the formation of primordial follicles, in nicotine-treated ovaries. (A) Quantitative RT-PCR for Nobox, Sohlh2, Figla and Lhx8 mRNA levels in control, intraperitoneally injected 1 mg /kg nicotine and intraperitoneally injected 1 mg /kg nicotine plus 1 μM melatonin ovaries. (B) Representative IF for the oocyte-specific transcription factor NOBOX in tissue sections of 5 dpp ovaries from control, intraperitoneally injected 1 mg /kg nicotine and intraperitoneally injected 1 mg /kg nicotine plus 1 μM melatonin Pups. (C) Percentage of oocyte showing strong NOBOX staining in ovary tissue sections. (D) Level of NOBOX protein in control, intraperitoneally injected 1 mg /kg nicotine and intraperitoneally injected 1 mg /kg nicotine plus 1 μM melatonin ovaries. (E) Level of LHX8 protein in control, intraperitoneally injected 1 mg /kg nicotine and intraperitoneally injected 1 mg /kg nicotine plus 1 μM melatonin ovaries. The results are presented as mean±SD. All the experiments were repeated at least three times. * P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01.