Fig. 9.

Cycling profiles show a state of persistent estrus in GnRH-Otx2KO females. A, Profile of individual daily vaginal smears for representative control (i and ii) and GnRH-Otx2KO (cKO) (iii and iv) female mice. Control mice progressed normally from estrus (E), to metestrus/diestrus (D/M) to proestrus (P), whereas cKO mice predominantly remained in estrus. B, The increase in time spent in estrus for cKO female mice was offset by a decrease of time spent in proestrus. Each animal was staged for at least 19 consecutive days. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.005.