Figure 2. Effects of constitutively active form of β-catenin on female germ cell survival in the Wnt4 KO ovary.

(A–D) Whole mount light field images of Wnt4 ^+/−;SF1/cre, Wnt4 ^−/−;SF1/cre, Wnt4^+/−;SF1/cre; Ctnnb1^fl.(ex3), and Wnt4^−/−;SF1/cre; Ctnnb1^fl.(ex3) ovaries at birth. (E) Average total germ cell number was obtained from Wnt4^+/−;SF1/cre, Wnt4^−/−;SF1/cre, Wnt4^+/−;SF1/cre; Ctnnb1^fl.(ex3), and Wnt4^−/−;SF1/cre; Ctnnb1^{fl.(ex3 )} ovaries at birth (n = 3 embryos for each genotype). Tukey tests revealed that the average germ cell number in Wnt4^−/−;SF1/cre was significantly different from that in Wnt4 ^+/−;SF1/cre (P = 0.017), Wnt4^+/−;SF1/cre; Ctnnb1^fl.(ex3) (P = 0.002), and Wnt4^−/−;SF1/cre; Ctnnb1^fl.(ex3) (P = 0.023). The asterisk represents statistical significance. (F–I) Immunohistochemical staining for androgen-producing enzyme CYP17 (green) was performed in Wnt4 ^+/−;SF1/cre, Wnt4 ^−/−;SF1/cre, Wnt4^+/−;SF1/cre; Ctnnb1^fl.(ex3), and Wnt4^−/−;SF1/cre; Ctnnb1^fl.(ex3) ovaries at birth. The inset in G represents a higher magnification of the CYP17-positive cells. Scale bar = 100 µm.