Research Paper Volume 9, Issue 4 pp 1186—1201

Figure 6. Caspase-3 expression in oocytes microinjected with miR-98 mimic or inhibitor. Freshly ovulated oocytes recovered at 13 h post hCG were injected with miR-98 mimic (MM) or miRNA mimic negative control (MC), or with miR-98 inhibitor (IN) or inhibitor negative control (IC), before aging culture in CZB medium. At 36 h (mimic) or 30 h (inhibitor) of aging culture, oocytes were processed for immunofluorescence microscopy. Caspase-3 was colored red in the laser confocal images. The bar is 12 µm and applies to all images. For quantification, the fluorescence intensity values in control oocytes injected with MC or IC were set as one and the values in oocytes injected with MM or IN were expressed relative to the values in control oocytes. Each treatment was repeated 3-4 times and each replicate contained 35-40 oocytes. a,b: Values with a different letter above bars differ significantly (P < 0.05).