Expressions of mTEC-related molecules in the thymus and plasma of mice exposed to 2G.

(A) Expressions of RANK, Aire, and RANKL in the whole thymus of mice exposed to 2G (2G) for 3 days. “C” indicates 1G control. Vestibular apparatus are surgically disrupted in some groups of mice (labeled as VL). Expression of RANK (Rank), Aire (Aire), and RANKL (Rankl) mRNAs was evaluated by qPCR analysis. N = 5 each C, 2G, C with VL, and 2G with VL groups. The asterisks indicate statistical significance at **P < 0.01 and *P < 0.05 (Student’s t-test). (B) Expressions of RANK and Aire in the whole thymus of mice exposed to 2G for 14 days. Expression of RANK and Aire mRNAs was evaluated by qPCR analysis. N = 6 each C, C with VL, and 2G with VL groups. N = 5 for 2G. The asterisks indicate statistical significance at *P < 0.05, *P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 (Student’s t-test). NS indicates that the difference is not significant (Student’s t-test). (C) RANKL and OPG protein levels in plasma of mice exposed to 2G for 3 days. Plasma concentration of RANKL (left) and OPG (middle) protein was determined by ELISA. Ratio of RANKL to OPG (RANKL/OPG) was exhibited in the right figure. N = 5 each C, C with VL, and 2G with VL groups. N = 4 for 2G. The asterisks indicate statistical significance at **P < 0.01 (Student’s t-test). (D) Corticosterone level in plasma of mice exposed to 2G for 3 days. Concentration of corticosterone was determined by ELISA. N = 6 each C, G, C with VL, and 2G with VL groups. NS indicates that the difference is not significant (Student’s t-test).