Fig. 4

Identifying molecular mechanisms associated with subfertility in APC2-deficient ovaries. a Representative photomicrographs of H&E and β-catenin immunohistochemical staining of atretic follicles showing high expression of β-catenin in granulosa cells of atretic follicles in Apc2^−/− vs. Apc2^+/+ ovaries. Bar = 100 μm; insets magnified 2X. b Expression levels of a subset of WNT-target genes compared between Apc2^+/+ and Apc2^−/− ovarian extracts by qRT-PCR. Expression levels of five out of eight genes analysed were significantly elevated in Apc2^−/− ovaries (mean ± 95% confidence intervals; n = 4; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, determined from confidence intervals) [45]. c, d Relative expression levels of a panel of (c) Fox transcription factors, and (d) FOX downstream target genes in Apc2^+/+ and Apc2^−/− 10-week-old ovaries (mean ± 95% confidence intervals; n = 4 for all measurements except for Fasl and Foxo1 in Apc2^+/+ where n = 3; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, determined from confidence intervals) [45]. e, f, g Representative photomicrographs of (e) PTEN, (f) p-AKT (ser-473), and (g) p-FOXO1,3,4 immunostaining in Apc2^+/+ and Apc2^−/− ovarian follicles. Bars = 200 μm; insets are magnified 2X