Figure 7: Gli1 expression in the theca progenitor cells is induced by oocyte-derived factor GDF9 through Hedgehog signalling in granulosa cells. | Nature Communications

Figure 7: Gli1 expression in the theca progenitor cells is induced by oocyte-derived factor GDF9 through Hedgehog signalling in granulosa cells.

From: Lineage specification of ovarian theca cells requires multicellular interactions via oocyte and granulosa cells

Figure 7

(a) Quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis of Gli1, Ihh and Dhh mRNA expression in the control (n=4) and busulfan-treated ovaries (n=3). Two ovaries were pooled as n of 1 and three times independent experiments were repeated. (b) qPCR analysis of Gli1, Ihh and Dhh mRNA expression in control (n=3) and Gdf9 knockout ovaries (n=3). (c) qPCR analysis of Gli1, Ihh and Dhh mRNA expression in the E18.5 oocyte-depleted ovaries (busulfan-treated) cultured with (n=5) or without (n=5) recombinant mouse GDF9 protein (60 ng ml−1). The expression level in oocyte-depleted ovaries without GDF9 (Control) was set as 1. Two ovaries were pooled as n of 1 and two times independent experiments were repeated. *P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001; Two-tailed Student’s t-test. Values in all graphs are presented as means±s.e.m. (d) Proposed model for the origins and establishment of theca cell lineage in the mouse ovary.

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