Fig. 1.
Expression of Hif1α is gestational age-dependent. (A) Hif1α mRNA levels at various gestational ages (n = 3 at each age) were measured using real-time RT-PCR and normalized to Gapdh and Actb levels. Significant upregulation was observed when the placental oxygen (O2) microenvironment increased from 3% to 8% at E9.5 to 10.5. (B) Addition of DFO to placental samples (white bar) helped to preserve Hif1α protein from degradation under ambient oxygen conditions as compared with control (no DFO) samples (black bar) as shown by Western blots. (C) Representative images of Western blots of Hif1α and Actb protein levels (top panel). Band intensities were quantified and normalized to Actb (n = 3). *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.005.