Figure 2. Interactions between Endothelial and Perivascular Stromal Cells in the Decidual Bed of Pgr^Cre/+Tlr4^f/f Mice.

(A) Western blotting of pStat3 and pS6 levels in day 16 uteri of Tlr4^f/f and Pgr^Cre/+Tlr4^f/f dams exposed to LPS (2.5 μg/mouse), n = 3.

(B) Western blotting results of pStat3, Stat3, and pNF_kB levels in day 16 deciduae after LPS treatment for 1 hour in Tlr4^−/− mice, n = 5.

(C) In situ hybridization for Cox2 and Il6 mRNAs in Tlr4^f/f and Pgr^Cre/+Tlr4^f/f mice after exposure to LPS for 1 hour. Arrowheads indicated endothelial cells. Scale bar, 200 μm.

(D) Immunofluorescence staining of pStat3 (red) and CD31 (green) in Tlr4^f/f and Pgr^Cre/+Tlr4^f/f mice after exposure to LPS for 1 hour. Scale bar of upper panels, 400 μm. Bottom panels show images at higher magnification of those within the demarcated rectangles in the upper panels. Dec, decidua; Pl, placenta. Arrowheads indicate endothelial cells. Scale bar, 200 μm.

(E) Immunostaining showing nuclear NF-_kB (red) in Tlr4^f/f and Pgr^Cre/+Tlr4^f/f mice after exposure to LPS for 1 hour. Arrowheads indicate endothelial cells. Scale bar, 50 μm.

(F) Western blotting for pStat3 and NF-_kB in cytosolic and nuclear fractions of day 16 deciduae after 1 h of vehicle or LPS treatment in Tlr4^f/f females. Lamin AC was used as nuclear internal control.

See also Figures S2, S3, and S4.