FIG. 2.

Ectopic Hsd17b3 expression is unique to αERKO ovaries. (a) Northern blot analysis for Hsd17b3 transcripts in adult wild type (WT) testes, WT ovaries, and αERKO ovaries. The level of Hsd17b3 expression in adult αERKO ovaries is comparable to that of WT testes; but undetectable in WT ovaries. (b) Northern blot analysis for Hsd17b3 transcripts in adult WT, αERKO and LH-CTP ovaries indicates that ectopic expression of Hsd17b3 does not occur in the ovaries of hypergonadotropic LH-CTP females. The same Northern blot was reprobed for Cyp17a1 transcripts, a known LH-regulated gene in the ovary. All Northern blots were probed for ribosomal Rn18s (18S rRNA) to demonstrate equal loading of total RNA among samples. (c) Data from real-time RT-PCR (average ± SEM) for Hsd17b3 and Cyp17a1 expression in adult WT testes, WT ovaries, αERKO ovaries, and LH-CTP ovaries. Hsd17b3 expression in αERKO ovaries is 2-fold that of WT testes. αERKO ovaries also exhibit significantly increased Cyp17a1 expression relative to WT testes and ovaries. Sample numbers (n) for each group were as follows: WT testes, 3 males; wild type ovaries, 5 females; αERKO, 3 females; LH-CTP, 3 females. Bars that do not share the same letter are significantly different (P < 0.05).