Fig. 1

Both hormone levels and fertility are affected in DHEA-induced PCOS mice. The mice were divided into two groups (OIL, DHEA). (A) The analysis of estrous cycles (n = 8 per group). Mice injected with DHEA remained in estrous from the fifth day of injection. D, diestrus; E, estrus; M, metestrus; P, proestrus. (B, D, E) mice injected with DHEA significantly increased the concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, as well as the LH/FSH ratio and testosterone levels, respectively, but not follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estrogen (C, F). Two-tailed, (n = 3 mice per group). (G, H, I) The fertility of mice injected with DHEA was impaired. Mice injected with DHEA have ovulation disorders. Two-tailed, (n = 3 mice per group). (J) The ovaries of mice injected with DHEA developed cystic follicles with corpus luteum depletion. # Indicates cystic follicles. * Indicates Corpus luteum. (K, L) The number of corpuses luteum and cystic follicles was counted, respectively. Two-tailed, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001,**** P < 0.0001. (n = 3 per group)