Fig. 1

VPA exposure during pregnancy disrupted the MFB while RU486 treatment alleviated VPA induced damage. (A) Experimental flow chart. (B) Placental and fetal gadolinium leakage monitored by MRI. The black circle in the picture represents the fetus and placenta. (C) The mean pixel value of each fetus in the postcontrast images of A. (Hounsfield units, HU), (n = 4, pregnant mice, respectively). (D) and (E) The Gd leakage into fetuses (C) and placentas (D) from maternal blood was quantified by ICP-MS. (n = 8 dams, respectively). The gadolinium leakage into the placenta or fetus was calculated as the ratio of the Gd concentration of the placenta or fetus and the Gd concentration of maternal blood. (F) The expression levels of Tjs (claudin-5 and claudin-4) in placentas at E14.5. (G) The ultrastructure of TJs complexes expressed on the amniotic epithelium was visualized by SEM. (H) and (I) Semi-quantification of the Western blot results of claudin-4 and claudin-5 (F) in placentas at E14.5. (n = 7 dams, respectively). (J) The ultrastructure of TJs in placental syncytiotrophoblast cells (SCTs) was observed by TEM. fNRBCs: fetal nucleated red blood cells. Endo f: fetal endothelial cells. MS: maternal blood sinus. SCT I with microvilli contacts with the MS directly. The yellow triangle indicates loosely bound Tjs or cracks. The blue triangle indicates the normal Tjs. Statistics were calculated by one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s post hoc test for (C), (D), (E), (H) and (I). The statistical significance is denoted by ns, not significant; *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01. The graphs show the mean ± SEM