Ovarian steroids regulate OPN expression <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i>.

<p>(A) Real-time PCR of <i>Opn</i> mRNA expression in ovariectomized mouse uteruses after hormone injections (Oil: sesame oil, E2: estradiol-17β, P4: progesterone, E2+P4: estradiol-17β plus with progesterone). (B) A western blot was performed to confirm the hormone regulation of OPN expression in mouse uteri; GAPDH was used as an internal reference. (C) Real-time PCR of <i>Opn</i> mRNA expression in ovariectomized mice uterus after the injection of estrogen alone or estrogen plus with ICI182,780, an estrogen receptor α antagonist (E2+ICI, estradiol-17β plus with ICI182,780). (D) A western blot was performed to confirm the hormone regulation on OPN expression in mouse uteri; GAPDH was used as an internal reference. (E) Real-time PCR of <i>Opn</i> mRNA levels after the mESCs were treated with steroids hormones. (F) Western blot analysis for the steroids hormones regulation of OPN expression in mESCs; GAPDH was used as an internal reference. G. Real-time PCR of <i>Opn</i> mRNA expression after the mESCs were treated with progesterone and RU486. (H) Western blot analysis for the progesterone regulation of OPN expression in mESCs, GAPDH was used as an internal reference. *, <i>p</i><0.05; <i>error bars,</i> S.E. All of the experiments were repeated three times.