Table 1.
Primer sequences used in the study for real-time PCR.
Fig 1.
Effect of cyanuric acid (CA) on female rats.
Values are expressed as means ± SD, n = 5. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01: CA group versus control group. Ovarian sections are stained with hematoxylin and eosin.
Fig 2.
Body weights of rats after exposure to different doses of melamine (MA) and melamine and cyanuric acid (MC).
Values are expressed as means ± SD, n = 5. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01: MA group versus control group and MC group versus control group.
Fig 3.
Gross pathological and histopathological changes of kidneys.
Hematoxylin-eosin staining illustrating the gold-brown crystals (black arrow), cellular casts (blue arrow) and compensatory expansion (red arrow).
Fig 4.
Absolute and relative ovary and uterus weights of rats exposed to different doses of melamine (MA) and melamine and cyanuric acid (MC).
Values are expressed as means ± SD, n = 5. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01: MA group versus control group and MC group versus control group.
Fig 5.
Estrous cycles of rats exposed to different doses of melamine (MA) and melamine and cyanuric acid (MC).
Values are expressed as means ± SD, n = 5. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01: MA group versus control group and MC group versus control group.
Fig 6.
Serum levels of estrogen and progesterone of rats exposed to different doses of melamine (MA) and melamine and cyanuric acid (MC).
Values are expressed as means ± SD, n = 5. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01: MA group versus control group and MC group versus control group.
Fig 7.
Photomicrographs of ovary sections.
Hematoxylin-eosin staining illustrating the necrosis of granulosa cells (white arrows).
Fig 8.
Numbers of atretic follicles in ovaries after rats were treated with different doses of melamine (MA) and melamine and cyanuric acid (MC).
Values are expressed as means ± SD, n = 5. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01: MA group versus control group and MC group versus control group.
Fig 9.
Apoptotic cells in rat ovaries detected by TUNEL staining after the rats were exposed to different doses of melamine (MA) and melamine and cyanuric acid (MC).
TUNEL-positive cells were found in the granulosa cells (black arrows).
Fig 10.
Percentages of apoptotic cells in ovaries after rats were exposed to different doses of melamine (MA) and melamine and cyanuric acid (MC).
Values are expressed as means ± SD, n = 5. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01: MA group versus control group and MC group versus control group.
Fig 11.
mRNA expressions of antioxidant enzymes in the ovaries of rats exposed to melamine (MA) and melamine and cyanuric acid (MC).
Values are expressed as means ± SD, n = 5. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01: MA group versus control group and MC group versus control group.
Fig 12.
mRNA expression levels of genes associated with steroidogenesis in ovaries of rats exposed to melamine (MA) and melamine and cyanuric acid (MC).
Values are expressed as means ± SD, n = 5. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01: MA group versus control group and MC group versus control group.