Fig. 4

Effects of prenatal dexamethasone exposure (PDE) on postnatal liver development and the levels of corticosterone (CORT) and insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF1) at postnatal week (PW) 6 and 12. A The mRNA expression of liver development-related genes at PW6 (n = 8); (B) Serum CORT at PW6 (n = 8); (C) Serum IGF1 level at PW6 (n = 8); (D) The mRNA expression of liver IGF1 signaling pathway expression at PW6 (n = 8); (E) Serum CORT with or without unpredictable chronic stress (UCS) at PW12 (n = 8); (F) Serum IGF1 level with or without UCS at PW12 (n = 8); (G) The mRNA expression of liver IGF1 signaling pathway expression with or without UCS at PW12 (n = 8); (H) The mRNA expression of liver development-related genes with or without UCS at PW12 (n = 8). Mean ± S.E.M. ^* P < 0.05, ^** P < 0.01 vs. the control group. NS, no significance; PDE(L), prenatal dexamethasone exposure at a low dose (0.2 mg/kg∙d)