Fig. 5.

Effect of oxygen on MMP12 protein in primary first trimester trophoblasts. Isolated trophoblasts were cultured at 5, 12 and 21% oxygen for 48 h. A representative immunoblot is shown on top (a). Quantified data are given as mean ± SEM (b). n = 7 different trophoblast isolations between weeks 7 and 11, each in duplicate. Statistical analysis used non-parametric ANOVA (Kruskal–Wallis). Post test (Dunn’s Multiple Comparison) revealed a significant reduction in MMP12 protein at 12 and 21% oxygen when compared to 5% oxygen (asterisk), but oxygen effect was abrogated when the HIF-1α activator DFO was added