Figure 5.

(A–B) Concentration-specific effect of GNPs on ovarian progesterone (P4) and Star or Cyp11a1 expression. Linear regression models showed that P4 accumulation was positively associated with both (A) Star (n=30 rats, p= 0.003, r²= 0.278, adj. r²= 0.252) and (B) Cyp11a1 (n=30 rats, p<0.001, r²= 0.366, adj r²= 0.344) expression upon exposure of rat ovaries to 1.43×10⁶ particles/mL, independent of time. (C-D) Concentration-specific effects of GNPs on estradiol 17-β (E2) and Hsd3b1 or Cyp17a1 expression. Linear regression models revealed significant positive relationships between E2 accumulation and the expression of either (C) Hsd3b1 (n=24 rats, p= 0.038, r²= 0.181, adj r²= 0.144) or (D) Cyp17a1 (n=23 rats, p= 0.007, r²= 0.301, adj r²= 0.0.268) in response to 1.43×10³ or 1.43×10⁹ particles/mL, respectively. Data were pooled for each specified concentration, independent of incubation period. The administered dose (particles/mL; top right) and regression equation (bottom right) associated with each respective analysis are presented.