1. Apoptosis-inhibitor Aven is downregulated in defective spermatogenesis and a novel estrogen target gene in mammalian testis 
Sandra Laurentino, B.Sc., João Gonçalves, M.S., José Eduardo Cavaco, Ph.D., Pedro Fontes Oliveira, Ph.D., Marco G. Alves, Ph.D., Mário de Sousa, M.D., Ph.D., Alberto Barros, M.D., Ph.D., Sílvia Socorro, Ph.D. 
Fertility and Sterility 
Volume 96, Issue 3, Pages (September 2011)
DOI: /j.fertnstert
Copyright © 2011 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

2. Figure 1
Aven expression and localization in human (hT) and rat (rT) testis. (A) RT-PCR detection of Aven in hT and rT; (−) negative control. (B) WB detection of Aven protein in hT and rT. (C) Aven expression during rat postnatal development determined by qPCR (normalization made with cyclophilin A and GAPDH as internal reference genes); n≥5 in all groups. Different letters indicate statistically significant differences between groups (all P<.001 with the following exceptions: P<.005 for 30 vs. 90, 240, and 270; P<.05 for 90 vs. 365). (D) Localization of the Aven protein on hT and rT, left and right panels, respectively; (−) negative control, obtained by omission of primary antibody. Magnification ×400.
Fertility and Sterility  , DOI: ( /j.fertnstert )
Copyright © 2011 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

3. Figure 2
Expression levels of Aven in testicular biopsies from men with OAZ, HP, and SCOS determined by qPCR; normalization was made using β2-microglobulin and GAPDH as internal reference genes. A trend can be observed (P<.001) toward the lower expression of Aven with increasing spermatogenic failure and decreasing modified HS. ∗P<.05; ∗∗∗P<.001.
Fertility and Sterility  , DOI: ( /j.fertnstert )
Copyright © 2011 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

4. Figure 3
Effect of 17β-estradiol (E2) on Aven expression and caspase-9 activation in rat SeT cultured ex vivo. SeT were cultured in the absence (E2 [−]) or presence (E2 [+]) of 10−7 M of E2 for 6, 12, 24, or 48 hours. (A) Time course expression of Aven mRNA determined by qPCR. Expression levels were normalized using β-actin and GAPDH as internal reference genes. (B) Expression of Aven protein at 24 and 48 hours of E2 stimulation determined by WB. (C) Caspase-9 activation at 24 hours of E2 stimulation evaluated by WB quantification of the 38 kDa cleavage product. ∗ P<.05; ∗∗∗ P<.001.
Fertility and Sterility  , DOI: ( /j.fertnstert )
Copyright © 2011 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions