Fig. 5

Gene expression of key gonad markers in NT2/D1 cells. Quantitative mRNA levels of SOX9, SRY, AMH, FGF9 and PTGDS after 48 h (A; n = 10) and SOX9, SRY, AMH, FOXL2 and WNT4 after 96 h (B; n = 5) with either 10 nM or 100 nM of EE2. Expression levels in control cells were designated as 1 and illustrated by the dotted line. Error bars show the 95% confidence interval of the mean. Expression of each gene in the corresponding estrogen treated culture was expressed relative to control levels. All testis markers had significantly reduced mRNA levels following 48 h of EE2 treatment (a). Testis markers did not show reduced mRNA levels after 96 h, however the ovarian markers FOXL2 and WNT4 had significant increases in expression (b). (* indicates P < 0.05, ** indicates P < 0.01, *** indicates P < 0.001 compared to the control)