Research Paper Volume 11, Issue 12 pp 3919—3938
Mitofusin 2 plays a role in oocyte and follicle development, and is required to maintain ovarian follicular reserve during reproductive aging
Figure 5. Increased apoptosis in Mfn2-/- secondary follicle-enclosed oocytes is associated with increased ceramide and decreased junction protein expression. (A, C) Immunofluorescence staining of caspase-6 (green) and ceramide (green) in secondary follicles of Mfn2-/- and WT mice ovaries. DAPI was used to stain nuclei (blue). (B, D) Quantitative analysis of caspase-6 and ceramide immunofluorescence in secondary follicles of Mfn2-/- and WT mice ovaries. (E, G) Immunofluorescence staining of E-cadherin (red) and Connexin37 (red) in secondary follicles of Mfn2-/- and WT mice ovaries. (F, H) Quantitative analysis of E-cadherin and Connexin37 immunofluorescence in secondary follicles of Mfn2-/- and WT mice ovaries. Data presented as mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05 vs. WT using t-test.