Figure 6.

Loss of ASC or NLRP3 significantly preserves the growing follicle pool in reproductively old mice. (A) Representative images of PAS-stained ovarian sections showing primary, secondary and antral follicles of 12-month-old WT, Asc^−/−, and Nlrp3^−/− mice. Scale bars are 50 μm. Primary, secondary and antral follicles are indicated by white head arrows. Primary (B), secondary (C), antral (D), and atretic (E) follicle numbers in ovaries from 2, 6, 12, and 18-month-old WT, Asc^−/−, and Nlrp3^−/− mice. n = 4–6 per cohort. Serum AMH (F) concentration in 12-month-old WT, Asc^−/−, and Nlrp3^−/− mice. n = 6 per cohort. All data are presented as mean ± SEM. For each age group, comparisons were made with WT using Student's t-test (B–F) or Mann-Whitney test (B–F) (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01).