Fig. 5.

Bursal infusion of EDN2 receptor antagonists in wild-type mice prevents vasoconstriction of vessels at the apex of the preovulatory follicle and suppresses ovulation. Beginning at 10 h after hCG, the bursa was infused with 2% BSA-saline for 30 min, followed by infusion of antagonists of EDN2 receptors type A and B (10 µm JKC-301 plus 10 µm BQ-788; arrows) until 15 h after hCG injection. Multiphoton microscopy imaging to determine blood flow (Left) and vessel diameter (Center) was performed on 15 vessels from three mice. (Right) The ovulation rate was determined by counting oocytes in the ampulla 15 h after hCG injection. Data points without a common superscript are different (P < 0.05).