Figure 1.

Expression of Gal-9 on placenta. Immunohistochemical localization of Gal-9 was shown on (a) normal (n = 10) and (b) abortion-prone (n = 10) matings, with (c) negative controls (400x) in placental tissues. The brown particles represent positive expression of Gal-9 protein. Gal-9 was distributed intracellularly and on cellular surfaces of trophoblast giant cells and spongiotrophoblast cells (arrows); and average optical density (AOD, AOD = integrated optical densities/area) between the two groups showed downregulated Gal-9 expression in abortion-prone matings (d). Placental tissues were examined by Western immunoblotting (e, f). The quantification of gray values between the two groups was in accordance with the immunohistochemistry (n = 15). (g) Real-time PCR indicated that there was no difference in the expression of Gal-9 in the placenta between the two groups (n = 10). ^∗∗p < 0.01; ^∗p < 0.05.