Fig. 3

Alterations in β-HB and serum FGF21 levels; the expression of hepatic FGF21 and its receptors; and the expression of sec23a, a COPII vesicle coat protein during pregnancy. (a) Transcript levels of liver lipid oxidation related genes during pregnancy or lactation (n = 7 for the V, P5, P12 and P19 groups, n = 4 for the L2 group). (b) Circulating levels of β-HB during pregnancy (n = 9–12 for the V, P5, P12 and P19 groups, n = 5 for the L2 group). (c) Circulating levels of FGF21 during pregnancy (n = 9–12 per group). (d) Confirmation of changes in FGF21 mRNA expression during pregnancy by qPCR (n = 5–6 per group). (e) Protein levels of FGF21 (n = 6 per group). (f) Transcript levels of FGF21 secretion-related genes (n = 10–11 per group). (g) Transcript levels of KLB and FGFRs (n = 5–6 per group). Statistical analyses were performed with one-way ANOVA. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 versus the V or P19 group; ns, not significant