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Fig. 4. Representative histological overview of WT and
Foxl2lacZ homozygous mutant ovaries at 2 weeks, 8
weeks and 16 weeks after birth (w, weeks). Overview of different stages of
folliculogenesis in WT and mutant mice (A-I). (A) Two weeks after birth a
cohort of secondary or preantral follicles with two layers of cuboidal
granulosa cells have developed in WT ovaries (asterisks). (B) In contrast,
only a few oocytes show substantial growth surrounded by a single layer of
squamous-like granulosa cells close to the rete ovarii (asterisks) that never
contained two layers of granulosa cells in
Foxl2lacZ homozygous mutant ovaries. (C) Higher
magnification of B; two advanced mutant follicles are shown where the oocytes
are already undergoing atresia (black arrow, squamous-like granulosa cells; o,
oocyte). (D) At 8 weeks of age, all stages of follicular development are seen
in WT ovaries. (E) In contrast, despite the substantial growth of all oocytes
in Foxl2lacZ homozygous mutant ovaries,
widespread follicular atresia is observed. (F) Higher magnification of E;
mutant follicles with large atretic oocytes are shown that are surrounded by
only a single layer of squamous-like granulosa cells (black arrow,
squamous-like granulosa cells; o, oocyte). (C,F) Granulosa cells did not
complete the squamous to cuboidal transition which is particularly evident in
the advanced follicles in 2- and 8-week-old
Foxl2lacZ homozygous mutant ovaries. (G) At 16
weeks of age all stages of follicular development are still seen in WT
ovaries. (H) At this stage the mutant ovary in
Foxl2lacZ homozygous mutant mice is only
one-twentieth the size of a WT ovary. (I) Only very few oocyte remnants (black
arrow) and disorganized granulosa cells are retained in mutant ovaries.
Corresponding pictures are photographed at the same magnification.
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