Fig. 3.

Morphological comparison of ovaries from control and both Ctgf cKO female mice. A–C, Comparison of ovarian histology from sexually mature (age 4–5 months) control and both Ctgf cKO female mice shows that Ctgf-mutant ovaries contain follicles at all stages of folliculogenesis as well as corpora lutea. Despite these observations, it is noted that there are reduced numbers of preantral and antral follicles, and the trend toward increased numbers of atretic preantral and atretic antral follicles in Ctgf cKO (Amhr2^cre/+) ovaries. In addition, high numbers of functional corpora lutea are shown in both Ctgf cKO female mice ovaries. D–F, Immunohistochemistry for 3ß-HSD showing functional corpora lutea in both Ctgf cKO female mice ovaries. An asterisk marks the corpus luteum. G, Statistical analysis of the numbers of the follicle compartments in control and Ctgf cKO (Amhr2^cre/+) female mice (n = 6 for each genotype). H, Statistical analysis of the numbers of the follicle populations in control and Ctgf cKO (Pgr^cre/+) female mice (n = 6 for each genotype). Statistical significance was determined by using Student's unpaired and two-tailed t test. Representative sections are shown. P, Primordial and primary follicle; PF, preantral follicle; APF, atretic primordial, primary, and preantral follicle; A, antral follicle; AF, atretic antral follicle; CL, corpus luteum. The data are shown as means ± sem. *, P < 0.05 (vs. control female mice). All bars correspond to 500 μm.