Figure 5.

Effect of sheath cell IP₃ sponge expression on contractile activity. (A) Plet-502::GFP expression pattern. Confocal differential interference contrast micrograph (left) and corresponding GFP fluorescence micrograph (right). GFP is expressed in proximal and distal gonad sheath cells (arrowheads), the spermatheca (Sp), and uterine sheath cells (arrows). DG, distal gonad; Em, embryo; Oo, oocyte. (B) Rates of sheath contraction during a single ovulatory cycle in control worms expressing Plet-502::GFP and Plet-502::IP₃ sponge. Values are means ± SE (n = 15–19). C. Basal and peak ovulatory contraction rates in control and IP₃ sponge-expressing worms. Values are means ± SE (n = 12–19). ^*p < 0.0002 compared with control worms expressing Plet-502::GFP.