Figure 5.

EE₂ modulates the expression of genes involved in regulating leukocyte trafficking and lymphocytes B markers. Specimens at both pre-SG and SG stage were treated with 0 and 5 µg EE₂/g food during 7 and 28 days and 28 days, respectively. Afterwards, the mRNA levels of ccl4 (a); il8 (b); sele (c); ighm (d) and ight (e) were determined in the gonad by real-time RT-PCR. Total RNA was obtained after pooling the same amount of mRNA from 5 to 6 fish/group. Data represent means ± SEM of triplicates of the same pooled sample. The asterisks denote statistically significant differences after Student t test between: (i) the untreated control group and the EE₂ treated group at each time point and spermatogenic condition and (ii) the untreated control groups of the two spermatogenic conditions at day 28. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01 and *** p < 0.001. ns, not significant.