Fig. 3. Reproductive dysfunction is exhibited in pituitary-specific p62 knockout mice.

Pituitary-specific p62^−/− mice (p62^flox/flox αGSU^cre) and controls (p62^flox/flox) were created using the cre/loxP approach. a Genotyping and PCR bands of p62^flox/flox and p62^flox/flox αGSU^cre mice. b Relative p62 mRNA expression in the pituitary of young female p62^flox/flox and p62^flox/flox αGSU^cre mice, n = 4. c, d Infertility ability was analyzed by counting cumulative pups per female and the successful fertility rate. e The estrous cycle of young female mice, n = 4. f Representative morphology images of the ovaries and uterus by H&E staining of the ovaries in young female p62^flox/flox and p62^flox/flox αGSU^cre mice. GF growing follicle, LAF large antral follicle, CL corpus luteum; Scale bar: 500 μm (left), 200 μm (right). g Serum LH, E2, and P levels in each group, n = 4–6. Statistical analyses were performed using Student’s t-test. Data are shown as the mean ± SD. Student’s t-test. *P ≤ 0.05; **P ≤ 0.01; ***P < 0.001.