Fig. 1: The expression and localization of FHL2 in the ovarian follicles.

A The protein expression profiles of FHL2 in human tissues. Data credit: Human Protein Atlas. Data summary image is derived from the human protein atlas database (ps://v18.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000115641-FHL2/tissue). B–D The Average litter size (B), the number of litters/female (C), and total pups (D) in wildtype (WT) and Fhl2 knockout (KO) mice during 5-months breeding trial. N = 14 for each group. E Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining of ovaries isolated from 3-week-old, 8-week-old, and 12-week-old of WT and Fhl2 KO mice. Scale bars: 200 μm. F Max cross-sectional area of ovaries from 3-week-old, 8-week-old, and 12-week-old of WT and Fhl2 KO mice. N = 3 for each group. G, H Number of follicles per ovary isolated from 3-week-old WT or KO mice (G), and 8-week-old WT or KO mice (H). N = 4 for each group. GF total growing follicle, sSF small secondary follicle (wrapped up by 2–5 layers of granule cells), lSF large secondary follicles (wrapped up by more than 5 layers of granule cells), TF tertiary Follicles, AF atretic follicle. I Representative image of immunofluorescence staining of Ki67 in WT and Fhl2 KO mice ovaries. Green color indicated Ki67 immunosignal. Nuclei were staining with DAPI in blue. Scale bar: 20 µm. Student’s t test was used to compare the difference between groups. Data are shown as mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. ns non-significant.