Fig 2: Effects of zearalenone (ZEA) on the protein expressions of follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR), gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) in the ovary of weaned gilts (n = 3). Control and ZEA represent the basal diet with an addition of 0 and 1.0 mg/kg ZEA, and with analyzed ZEA concentrations of 0 and 1.04 ± 0.03 mg/kg, respectively. a,b Means differ significantly (p < 0.05).

Fig 3: The mRNA expressions of PACAP (a), PAC1 (b), VPAC1 (c), VPAC2 (d), LHR (e), FSHR (f ), StAR (g), 3ß-HSD (h) and CYP17a1 (i) detected by quantitative real-time PCR in the testis of the muskrat during the breeding season and the non-breeding season. B, the breeding season; NB, the non-breeding season. Data were shown as the mean ± SEM (n 4 for each period); *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001; ****p<0.0001.

Fig 4: Effects of zearalenone (ZEA) on the luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) localization in the ovary of weaned gilts. Control (A,C–F) and ZEA (B,G–J) represent the basal diet with an addition of 0 and 1.0 mg/kg ZEA, and with analyzed ZEA concentrations of 0 and 1.04 ± 0.03 mg/kg, respectively. The o, gc and tc represent oocyte, granulosa cell and theca cell, respectively. The hollow arrows indicate the healthy primordial follicle, the dashed arrows indicate the atresia of the primordial follicle and the black arrows indicate the LHR localization in the follicle. Scale bars were 100 µm for (A,B), and 20 µm for (C–J), respectively (n = 10).

Fig 5: The immunohistochemical localizations PACAP (a,b), PAC1 (c,d), VPAC1 (e,f ), VPAC2 (g,h), LHR (k,l), FSHR (m,n), StAR (o,p), 3ß-HSD (q,r) and CYP17a1 (s,t) in the testis of the muskrats during the breeding season (a,c,e,g,k,m,o,q,s) and the non-breeding season (b,d,f,h,l,n,p,r,t). The negative control sections the testis during the breeding season (i) and the non-breeding season (j). B, the breeding season; NB, the non-breeding season; LC, Leydig cells; SC, Sertoli cell; Spg, spermatogonia; Spz, spermatozoa. Scale bars: 25 µm.