Mitochondrial fusion modulates StAR mRNA levels.

<p>Cells were transfected with an empty pSUPER.Retro vector (mock) or containing a Mfn2-shRNA. After 48 h, cells were incubated with or without 8Br-cAMP (cAMP) (0.5 mM) for 1 h. Total RNA was isolated; reverse transcribed and subjected to Real-Time PCR.using specific primers. StAR mRNA expression levels were normalized to mouse 18S RNA expression, performed in parallel as endogenous control. Real-time PCR data were analyzed by calculating the 2^−ΔΔCt value (comparative Ct method) for each experimental sample. The relative expression levels of StAR are shown: ### <i>p</i><0.001 vs. control mock; ***<i>p</i><0.001 vs. cAMP mock. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM of three independent experiments.