Effect of SOCS3 inhibition on lactation and proliferation of DCMECs. DCMECs were divided into three groups: transfected with a SOCS3 siRNA or negative control (control group), nontransfected, grew for 24 h. (A) Relative mRNA expression of different genes in DCMECs growing for 24 h were measured by qRT-PCR after SOCS3 inhibition; (B) Western blotting results of SOCS3, STAT5a, p-STAT5a, mTOR, p-mTOR, SREBP-1c, β-casein and β-actin after SOCS3 inhibition in DCMECs growing for 24 h; (C) Results of gray scale scan of SOCS3, STAT5a, p-STAT5a, mTOR, p-mTOR, SREBP-1c and β-casein /β-actin relative fold by western blotting after SOCS3 inhibition at 24 h; (D,E) Proliferation and viability of DCMECs growing for 24 h were measured using CASY; (F) Fluorescence staining after SOCS3 inhibition. a: Cells were transfected with SOCS3 siRNA; b: Negative control; c: Nontransfected cells. Scale bars = 75 μm in a and b; 20μm in c; (G) The analysis of fluorescence staining after SOCS3 inhibition. * or ** means significant difference compared with negative control group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01).