Figure 5.

Changes in the frequency of IL-16-expressing cells in the ovary during aging. (a) Frequency of IL-16-expressing cells in the ovarian stroma in premenopausal and postmenopausal ovaries. Compared with premenopausal, the frequency of IL-16-expressing cells was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in subjects at early stage of menopause (55-59 years old) and increased further in subjects at late stage of menopause (60-85 years old). (b) Population of IL16-expressing cells in the ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) layer, cortical inclusion cysts (CICs), and stromal invaginations (INVs) in postmenopausal ovaries. Compared with OSE, the frequency of IL-16-expressing cells was significantly higher in CICs (P < 0.0001) and increased further in INVs (P < 0.0001). (c) Frequency of IL-16-expressing cells in CICs and INVs in different age groups. Significant differences were not observed in the frequency of IL-16 expressing cells in CICs among different age groups (five ovaries were randomly selected from each age group including premenopausal, early menopausal, and late menopausal stages and examined) (left panel, P < 0.72). Similarly, differences were not observed in the population of IL-16-expressing cells in INVs among different age groups (five ovaries were randomly selected from each age group including premenopausal, early menopausal, and late menopausal stages and examined) (right panel, P < 0.36). y-axis shows mean ± SEM in 20,000 mm² area of the tissue and bars with different letters are significantly different. Details of statistical analysis are mentioned in materials and method section of the main text.