MHC Protein Expression.

<p>Western blots illustrate expression of MHC I and II proteins using representative samples above the graphs. Graphs show MHC I (A) and MHC II (B) protein content in the controls and maternal steroid treatment groups of 2 d (n = 4 for both control and steroid groups), 7 d (n = 4 for both control and steroid groups) and 21 d (n = 5 for both control and steroid groups) postnatal age. Values are Mean (SE). White and black bars refer to the control and steroid treatment groups respectively. ^{* ∧ #} indicates <i>p</i><0.05 compared with controls of 2 d, 7 d and 21 d respectively. MHC: myosin heavy chain.</p

Fetal Diaphragm Contractile Properties.

<p>Twitch peak force (A), time to peak (B), half relaxation time (C) and maximum specific force (D) in the controls and maternal steroid treatment groups of 2 d, 7 d and 21 d postnatal age (n = 6 for each group). Values are Mean (SE). White and black bars refer to the control and steroid treatment groups respectively. ^{* ∧ #} indicates <i>p</i><0.05 compared with controls of 2 d, 7 d and 21 d respectively. TTP: time to peak; ½ Relax: half relaxation time.</p

Atrophic Gene Expression.

<p>Graphs show MAFbx and MuRF1 mRNA level in the controls and maternal steroid treatment groups of 2(n = 4 for control, n = 8 for steroid group), 7 d (n = 7 for control, n = 4 for steroid group) and 21 d (n = 5 for both control and steroid groups) postnatal age. Values are Median (25^th, 75^th centile), expressed as fold change relative to 2 d control group. White and black box plots refer to the control and steroid treatment groups respectively. ^* indicates <i>p</i><0.05 compared with controls of 2 d. C: control; S: steroid.</p

Activity of Akt Signalling.

<p>Western blots illustrate expression of signalling molecules using representative samples above the graphs. Graphs show p-Akt (A), total Akt (B) and p-Akt/total Akt ratio (C) in the controls and maternal steroid treatment groups of 2 d (n = 4 for both control and steroid groups), 7 d (n = 4 for both control and steroid groups) and 21 d (n = 5 for both control and steroid groups) postnatal age. Values are Mean (SE). White and black bars refer to the control and steroid treatment groups respectively. ^# indicates <i>p</i><0.05 compared with 21 d controls. p: phosphorylated.</p

Activity of 4E-BP1 Signalling.

<p>Western blots illustrate expression of signalling molecules using representative samples above the graphs. Graphs show p-4E-BP1 (A), total 4E-BP1 (B) and p-4E-BP1/total 4E-BP1 ratio (C) in the controls and maternal steroid treatment groups of 2 d (n = 4 for both control and steroid groups), 7 d (n = 4 for both control and steroid groups) and 21 d (n = 5 for both control and steroid group) postnatal age. Values are Mean (SE). White and black bars refer to the control and steroid treatment groups respectively. ^{* #} indicates <i>p</i><0.05 compared with controls of 2 d and 21 d respectively. p: phosphorylated.</p

Activity of Nrf2 Signalling Molecule after LPS Exposure.

<p>Western blots illustrate Nrf2 protein concentration in whole cell lysate and nuclear fraction using representative samples from each group above the graphs. Graph A shows Nrf2 protein content in cell lysate in the control (n = 5) and 2 d (n = 7) and 7 d (n = 7) LPS exposure groups. Graph B shows nuclear Nrf2 protein content for saline (n = 5), 2 d (n = 5) and 7 d (n = 5) LPS challenged groups. Values are Mean (SEM). *indicates p&lt;0.05.</p

Antioxidant Protein Content in Diaphragm Mitochondria.

<p>Western blots illustrate expression of antioxidant proteins using representative samples from the control group (n = 3), and the 2 d (n = 7) and 7 d (n = 3) LPS groups (A). Graphs show protein contents of catalase (B), SOD2 (C) and GPX1 (D) in saline and LPS treated groups. Values are Mean (SEM). *indicates p&lt;0.05.</p

MHC Gene Expression.

<p>Graphs show MHC neonatal (A), MHC I (B), MHC IIa (C), MHC IIb (D) and MHC IIx (E) mRNA level in the controls and maternal steroid treatment groups of 2 d (n = 4 for control, n = 8 for steroid group), 7 d (n = 7 for control, n = 4 for steroid group) and 21 d (n = 5 for both control and steroid groups) postnatal age. Values are Median (25^th, 75^th centile), expressed as fold change relative to 2 d control group. White and black box plots refer to the control and steroid treatment groups respectively. ^{* ∧ #} indicates <i>p</i><0.05 compared with controls of 2 d, 7 d and 21 d respectively. MHC: myosin heavy chain. C: control; S: steroid.</p

Force-Frequency Relationship and Post-Fatigue Force in 21 d Diaphragm.

<p>Force-stimulation frequency relationship (A) and post-fatigue force (B) in the 21 d betamethasone and control groups (n = 6 for each group). White and black box plots refer to the control and steroid treatment groups respectively. Values are Mean (SE). ^# indicates <i>p</i><0.05 compared with the control.</p

Quantification of Oxidized Protein in Diaphragm Mitochondria.

<p>Western blots illustrate protein oxidation using representative samples from each group (A). Graph shows the reactive carbonyl derivatives content in the isolated diaphragmatic mitochondria in control animals (n = 3) and animals exposed to LPS for 2 d (n = 7) or 7 d (n = 3) (B). Values are Mean (SEM). <b>*</b>indicates p&lt;0.05.</p