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. 2015 Jan 16;156(4):1464–1476. doi: 10.1210/en.2014-1926

Figure 7. Constitutive PI3K activity in oocytes results in anovulation.

Figure 7.

A, Gross morphology of Cre− and Cre+ ovaries at PD50. An extensive hemorrhage was observed in Cre+ ovaries. B, Histological characteristics of Cre+ ovaries at PD50. Although the CLs were prominent in Cre− ovaries, there was no CL in Cre+ ovaries at PD50. Instead, large hemorrhagic cysts were observed throughout the Cre+ ovaries (black arrow). Inset, Immunohistochemistry for p63 indicated the presence of normal primordial follicles in the ovaries of PD50 Cre+ mice. Scale bar, 100 μm. C, Relative follicle numbers of each class in PD50 ovary; **, P < .01; ***, P < .001. D, Follicle numbers per Cre+ ovary at PD50 was significantly lower than that at PD35; ***, P < .001. E, IF assay for STAR on PD50 Cre− and Cre+ ovaries. Scale bar, 100 μm. F, Serum levels of estradiol (pg/mL), FSH (ng/mL), testosterone (pg/mL), inhibin A (pg/mL), and inhibin B (pg/mL) at PD50. Sera from 4 mice each for Cre− and Cre+ groups were used for the analysis of estradiol and testosterone levels. For the analysis of serum FSH and inhibin levels, sera from 3 mice each for Cre+ and Cre− groups were used. ns, nonsignificant; **, P < .01; ***, P < .001. Serum testosterone and 17β-estradiol levels were not significantly different between Cre− and Cre+ mice. Level of serum FSH in Cre+ mice was significantly lower than that of Cre− mice, whereas the serum levels of inhibins A and B in Cre+ mice were significantly higher than those of Cre− mice. Two-tailed, unpaired t test was used for statistical analysis. G, The number of superovulated COCs from Cre− (n = 5) and Cre+ (n = 3) at PD50. H, Meiosis resumption in Cre− and Cre+ oocytes from PD50 mice. Polar bodies (black arrow) were excluded from the oocytes collected from PD50 Cre− and Cre+ mice. Oocytes from superovulated COCs in both Cre− and Cre+ were healthy and resumed meiosis as shown in insets (arrows mark polar body). Scale bar, 50 μm. I, Formation of CL in Cre+ mice after superovulation. H&E staining and the IF assay for STAR detected the CL in the ovaries of PD50 Cre− and Cre+ mice subjected to superovulation test. Scale bar, 100 μm.