Fig. 4.

Knockdown of Kif18a leads to spindle and chromosomal defects during meiosis. a Typical images of MI oocytes after microinjection of control siRNA and Kif18a siRNA. Spindles of control MI oocytes exhibited the classical barrel shape with organized chromosomes, while malformed and multipolar spindles occurred in Kif18a-KD oocytes. Green, α-tubulin; red, DNA. b The incidence of abnormal spindles and misaligned chromosomes in control and Kif18a-KD oocytes. c Endogenous ac-tubulin protein expression in control and Kif18a-KD oocytes was examined by Western blotting. d Relative intensities of the Kif18a protein bands in control and Kif18a-KD oocytes. Ac-tubulin protein expression was significantly increased in Kif18a-KD oocytes. e Sirt2 and Nat10 expression in control and Kif18a-KD oocytes was examined by Western blotting. After Kif18a knock down, the expression of Sirt2 decreased while there was no difference for Nat10. f Relative intensities of Sirt2 and Nat10 protein bands in control and Kif18a-KD oocytes. Data are presented as mean percentage (± SEM) of at least three independent experiments. *p < 0.05; scale bars: 20 μm