Figure 3
From: Granulosa cell endothelin-2 expression is fundamental for ovulatory follicle rupture
Loss of EDN2 reduces oocytes ovulated and decreases average litter size. Edn2flox mice were crossed with Pgr-Cre, Cyp19-iCre, and Esr2-iCre mice to remove Edn2 expression in granulosa cells. (A) Relative Edn2 mRNA expression in whole ovaries compared to WT hCG12 ovaries. Expression of Edn2 is significantly lower in WT mice at hCG0 and in Cyp19-Edn2KO and Esr2-Edn2KO mice at hCG12 hours. (B) Representative histological images from ovaries of each genotype at hCG24 hours (4X). Ovaries from each genotype appeared healthy and all had corpora lutea, antral follicles, and immature follicles with no difference in hemorrhage between groups. Note the multiple antral follicles with trapped oocytes present in Cyp19-Edn2KO and Esr2-Edn2KO mouse lines. (C) Breeding study and superovulation oocyte collection results. Each pairing lasted 10 days; litter size represents pups present on day of birth; oocytes were collected from the ampulla of the oviduct at hCG24 hours. P-values are from the post hoc test relative to control mice. All error bars represent the SEM.
