Fig. 3
Effects of cortisol on the mRNA expressions of TLR4 (a), IL1β (b), IL6 (c), TNF-α (d) and IL8 (e) in heat-killed E.coli-stimulated bovine endometrial epithelial cells. Cells were co-treated with cortisol (5, 15, or 30 ng/mL) and heat-killed E.coli (1 × 108 CFU/mL) for 2, 6, or 18 h. RNA was isolated and analysed by qPCR. The data were present as means ± SEM (n = 3). COR, cortisol. ** p < 0.01 vs the control group; # p < 0.05, ## p < 0.01 vs the heat-killed E.coli group