Fig. 7. Blockade of COX-2 inhibits the downregulation of StAR and P450scc by oxLDL in TM3 Leydig cells.

a–c The cells were transfected with siRNA-COX-2 or scrambled siRNA (negative control) and then with blank control or 100 μg/mL oxLDL for 24 h. d–f The cells were treated with COX-2 inhibitors NS398 (10 μM) or Celecoxib (25 μM) for 1 h and then with blank control or 100 μg/mL oxLDL for 24 h. The protein expression of StAR, P450scc, and 3β-HSD was detected by western blotting. *P < 0.05, compared with oxLDL treatment alone. The data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation of at least three independent experiments.