Fig. 6. Comparison of expression of transcripts encoding enzymes required for cholesterol biosynthesis in oocytes and cumulus cells. (A) Comparison of mRNA levels of transcripts encoding enzymes required for cholesterol biosynthesis in oocytes and cumulus cells, relative to levels of Rpl19 mRNA expressed by those cell types. Experiment was repeated three times independently. Data are presented as mean of the fold change of the mRNA levels relative to levels in oocytes (given a value of 1) ± s.e.m. ^*P<0.05, compared with levels in oocytes. (B) In situ hybridization of transcripts encoding enzymes required for cholesterol biosynthesis. The four images in each row show localization of transcripts indicated on the left side. In each row, the first two panels (from left) are low magnification, bright- and dark-field images of a 22-day-old eCG-primed ovary; the last two panels are high magnification, bright- and dark-field images of large antral follicles from the same ovary. Cumulus cells and oocyte in each follicle are indicated by an arrowhead and an arrow, respectively. Scale bars: 200 µm.