Fig. 1

Expression and localization of Oct4A in normal ovarian epithelium tissues and high-grade serous ovarian tumors. a-d The expression and localisation of Oct4A in normal ovarian epithelium and primary grade 3 serous tumor samples was evaluated using immunofluorescence staining. Tumor tissues were immunostained using a mouse monoclonal Oct4A-specific antibody and visualized using the secondary Alexa 488 fluorescent labelled antibody (green). Nuclear staining was visualized using DAPI staining (blue). Images show Oct4A expression in the nuclei of tumor cells. Images are representative of n = 3 normal ovarian epithelium and n = 3 primary grade 3 serous ovarian tumor samples. Magnification is set at a 100x, b 200x and c 400x. Scale bar represents 100 μM. d Mean fluorescence intensity of Oct4A staining was quantified on images taken at 200x magnification using Cell-R software. Data is presented as the mean ± SEM of Oct4A expression standardized to DAPI of three independent samples. Significance is indicated by *P < 0.05 as determined by student’s t-test. e Nuclear cell lysates extracted from human normal ovarian epithelium tissues and primary high-grade serous ovarian tumors were evaluated for Oct4A protein expression using Western blot analysis. The Oct4A protein band of interest is indicated by an arrow at ~50 kDa. Total protein load was determined by stripping and re-probing the membrane with GAPDH. f Densitometry analysis of Oct4A Western blots. Data is expressed as a ratio of Oct4A protein expression standardized to GAPDH and presented as the mean ± SEM