Fig. 2.

Ability of N_PTX3 Cys/ Ser mutants to promote cumulus expansion and HA organization in Ptx3^−/− COCs. (A) Micrographs showing the morphology of COCs from Ptx3 null mice cultured for 16 h with 100 ng/ml FSH, 2% FBS in the presence of wild type N_PTX3 (WT) or N_PTX3 Cys to Ser single (C103), double (C47/C49) and triple (C47/C49/C103) mutants at different concentrations calculated based on the protomer molecular mass (i.e., ~18 kDa). (B) The corresponding amounts of newly synthesized HA retained in the matrix and released into the medium were determined. The reported values represent the mean ± S.D. of the percentage of HA retained in the matrix, of the total synthesized, obtained from three independent experiments.