Fig. 4

mRNA levels encoding autophagy pathway initiation proteins in mice testis after ALS administration. (A) expression of genes involved in autophagy initiation evaluated with qPCR method, i.e.: mTOR (B), ULK1 (C), PI3K (D), BECN1 (E), BECN2 (F), ATG16L (G), ATG13 (H), ATG5 (I), LC3 (J). Bars indicate mean \(\pm\) SD, n = 7 per each group; (*) indicate comparison between control group and analyzed groups after MTEP, NS-398, IMI, MTEP + NS-398, IMI + NS-398 with and without LPS, and comparison between the same substance in analyzed group; (^) indicate comparison after administration the same substances between the groups without and with LPS; ***/^^^ p < 0.001, **/^^ p < 0.01, */^ p < 0.05; no indication = no statistical significance (one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s post hoc test). The results were normalized to ACTB