Fig. 3

Fig. 3 CRH activates p38 MAPK pathways to regulate steroidogenic gene expression and estradiol levels. (A and B) Follicular cells were treated with 100 nM CRHα or CRHβ for 5–120 min. Phospho-p38 MAPK (p-p38 MAPK) and β-tubulin were detected by Western blotting (n = 3). Representative blots and quantified graphs are shown. (C and D) Follicular cells were treated with or without p38 MAPK inhibitors (SB203580) (10 μM) for 1 h, followed by CRHα or CRHβ treatment for 5 min and 10 min, respectively. (E and F) Follicular cells were treated with or without CRHα or CRHβ (100 nM) in the presence or absence of SB 203580 for 24 h. The mRNA expression of cyp19a1a, hsd17b1, and hsd17b3 were detected using qPCR (n = 4). The content of E2 in the medium was measured by ELISA (n = 4). Different lowercase above columns indicates statistical significance (P < 0.05).