Fig. 2: Uterine Mettl3 deficiency induces complete implantation failure resulting in female infertility but displaying normal ovarian function. | Cell Death & Disease

Fig. 2: Uterine Mettl3 deficiency induces complete implantation failure resulting in female infertility but displaying normal ovarian function.

From: METTL3-dependent m6A methylation facilitates uterine receptivity and female fertility via balancing estrogen and progesterone signaling

Fig. 2: Uterine Mettl3 deficiency induces complete implantation failure resulting in female infertility but displaying normal ovarian function.

A Illustration of the Mettl3 conditional allele with loxP sites placed flanking exon 2 and exon 3. B Relative Mettl3 mRNA level in the uteri of Mettl3 cKO (n = 7) and control (n = 8) mice on GD4. Data are presented as mean ± SD, ***P < 0.001, relative to control. C Immunofluorescence of METTL3 and CK8 in the uteri of Mettl3 cKO and control mice on GD4. Nuclei were stained with DAPI. Scale bars: 75 μm. D Female fertility was assessed. Data are presented as mean ± SD. E Vaginal smear assays of Mettl3 cKO mice confirmed each stage of the normal estrous cycle. Scale bars: 100 μm. F Gross morphology of female reproductive tracts in Mettl3 cKO and control mice at 8 weeks of age. HE staining of the cross-sections of the uterus (G), vagina (H), oviduct (I), and ovary (J) in control and Mettl3 cKO mice at 8 weeks of age. Serum concentrations of E2 (K) or P4 (L) in Mettl3 cKO (n ≥ 9) and control mice (n ≥ 5) were analyzed and shown as mean ± SD. M Number of oocytes collected from superovulated Mettl3 cKO (n = 6) and control females (n = 8). N Representative photographs of control uterus (n = 6) with implantation sites and Mettl3 cKO uterus (n = 5) without blue bands on GD5. Scale bars, 1 cm. O The number of implantation sites in (N) were counted and are reported as mean ± SD, ***P < 0.001, relative to control.

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