Fig. 2.

MMP2 and MMP9 are important for LH-induced steroidogenesis in mouse follicles. Preovulatory follicles from PMSG-primed female mice were pretreated with 0.01% DMSO, 20 μm MMP2/9 inhibitor, or doxycycline (Dox) at the indicated concentrations for 30 min. Follicles were stimulated with 0.2 mg/ml LH or LH plus inhibitors or DMSO for 30 min (A) or 2 h (B). Progesterone levels in the medium were measured by RIA. Similar experiments were repeated at least three times with comparable results. Each bar represents the mean ± sem (n = 4 for the MM2/9 inhibitor, A; and n = 3 for doxycycline, B). *, P < 0.05 by Student's t test relative to LH alone; **, P = 0.08 by Student's t test relative to LH alone.