Figure 7.

Percentage of oocytes positive for the different markers of apoptosis and autophagy. Combined apoptosis and autophagy is present simultaneously in more than 40% of the oocyte population in all phases. Oocytes undergoing only one process of cell death, apoptosis or autophagy, are present in all phases. Estrus is characterized by the lowest percentage of autophagy and the highest level of apoptosis. Error bars represent standard error. (*) indicate the significant difference between the apoptosis level in the estrus phase and the others. (**) indicate the significant difference of autophagy level in the estrus phase and the others. The significant difference was obtained by a Student t-test (P<0.05).