Figure 2.

Effects of IL-15 and IL-2 on the expression of perforin mRNA in pregnant uterus. The explants of pregnant uterus prepared on the indicated days of gestation were cultured for 24 h in medium alone, or in medium supplemented with either IL-15 or IL-2. The RNAs prepared from the cultured explants were subjected to RT-PCR and PhosphorImager analysis. The level of the expression of perforin mRNA in the explants obtained on the indicated day of gestation was determined based on the ratio of the PCR product specific for perforin to that for β-actin. The perforin/β-actin ratios obtained in the RNAs prepared from the explants cultured in the presence of cytokines were then normalized against those obtained from the explants cultured in medium alone.