Fig. 7

Effects of negative feedback between Prrx1 and miR-140-3p on the rapid growth and chondrogenesis of xenogeneic antlers. A RM layer tissue was transplanted into the area of the forehead of nude mice, and the xenogeneic antlers were formed gradually. Histological sections and H and E + Alcian blue staining of different xenogeneic antler groups showed that overexpression of miR-140-3p (miR-140-3p agomir group) resulted in the formation of large chondrocyte clusters, while inhabitation of miR-140-3p (miR-140-3p antagomir group), the majority of the formed xenogeneic antler was composed of fibrous connective tissue. B Frozen section and Prrx1 immunofluorescence analysis of isolated xenogeneic antlers. C Relative Prrx1 mRNA levels of isolated xenogeneic antlers were detected using qPCR (n = 3 biological replicates per group). D Relative Prrx1 protein levels of isolated xenogeneic antlers were detected using western blot (n = 3 biological replicates per group). Data are presented as the mean ± standard error. Two-tailed Student’s t-test was used to compare the differences between two groups. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01