Figure 3.

Knockdown of annexin A5 inhibits testosterone production and the expression of testosterone synthesis-related enzymes in rat Leydig cells. (a) Leydig cells were transfected with three different siRNAs targeting annexin A5, and the protein expression of annexin A5 was detected at 48 h after transfection by Western blotting. (b) Leydig cells were transfected with annexin A5 siRNA for 48 h, then culture medium was collected and assayed for testosterone production by chemiluminescence assay. (c) Protein expression of StAR, P450scc, 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD in Leydig cells was detected after annexin A5 knockdown. The densitometric analysis of Western blots was determined by the normalization to internal control β-actin. Values are shown as mean ± s.d. from at least three independent experiments. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, compared with negative control.