Fig 2: mRNA levels encoding autophagy pathway initiation proteins in mice testis after ALS administration. (A) expression of genes involved in autophagy initiation evaluated with qPCR method, i.e.: mTOR (B), ULK1 (C), PI3K (D), BECN1 (E), BECN2 (F), ATG16L (G), ATG13 (H), ATG5 (I), LC3 (J). Bars indicate mean \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\pm$$\end{document}± SD, n = 7 per each group; (*) indicate comparison between control group and analyzed groups after MTEP, NS-398, IMI, MTEP + NS-398, IMI + NS-398 with and without LPS, and comparison between the same substance in analyzed group; (^) indicate comparison after administration the same substances between the groups without and with LPS; ***/^^^ p < 0.001, **/^^ p < 0.01, */^ p < 0.05; no indication = no statistical significance (one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s post hoc test). The results were normalized to ACTB

Fig 3: ALS- and LPS-induced activation of autophagy pathway. (A) Schematic presentation of the autophagy pathway in the testis after administration of ALS; expression of proteins involved in autophagy initiation evaluated with Western blot method (B), i.e.: mTOR (C), ULK1(D), ATG13 (E), BECLIN1 (F), ATG14 (G), BCl-2 (H), ATG5 (I), ATG16L (J), LC3 (K). Bars indicate mean \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\pm$$\end{document}± SD, n = 7 per each group; (*) indicate comparison between control group and analyzed groups after MTEP, NS-398, IMI, MTEP + NS-398, IMI + NS-398 with and without LPS; (^) indicate comparison after administration the same substances between the groups without and with LPS; ***/^^^ p < 0.001, **/^^ p < 0.01, */^ p < 0.05; no indication = no statistical significance (one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s post hoc test). The results were normalized to β-actin