FIGURE 4.

Effects of prenatal caffeine exposure (PCE) on corticosterone concentration and 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (11β‐HSD2) expression in 12‐week‐old male and female offspring. (a) Serum corticosterone (CORT) concentration (n = 8 per group); (b) bone tissue CORT concentration (n = 8 per group); (c) RT‐qPCR analysis of bone 11β‐HSD2 mRNA expression (n = 8 per group); (d) representative immunohistochemical images of 11β‐HSD2 in adult bone tissue; (e) quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of the mean optical density of 11β‐HSD2 protein (n = 5 per group); (f) the correlation analysis between serum CORT concentration and bone 11β‐HSD2 mRNA and protein expression; (g) the correlation analysis of bone 11β‐HSD2 mRNA and protein expression and bone CORT; (h) the correlation analysis of bone 11β‐HSD2 mRNA expression and BV/TV, Tb. N, Tb. Th and Tb. Sp. Mean ± SEM, *P < 0.05 compared with the control. BV/TV, bone volume/trabecula volume; Tb. N, trabecula number; Tb. Th, trabecula thickness; Tb. Sp, trabecula space