Effects of RU486 on the dorsal skin of stressed mice.

A: Photographs of mice back skin on day 2 and day 13 after epilation showing that the mice received RU486 injection had a significantly darker observable skin color than CUMS mice. B: MITF expression was analyzed by immunoblotting. C: TYR expression was analyzed by immunoblotting. D: POMC expression was analyzed by immunoblotting. β-Actin expression was indicated as a loading control. Western blot assay are representative of three experiments. Densitometric scanning of band intensities obtained from three separate experiments was used to quantify change of proteins expression. Three animals were used for each data point. Data are showed in mean ± SEM. E: The mRNA expression levels of UCN1, POMC, and CYP11A1 in mouse skin. The expression levels of each gene were normalized against β-Actin then calculated as fold change using the comparative 2-ΔΔCT method. Data are showed in mean ± SEM, n = 8. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test. * P, *** P, compared with control; &P, &&P, &&&P, compared with CUMS.