Figure 4

Dependency of follicle size and growth on ADRB-2 presence. Adrenergic stimulation does not affect follicular growth (A). Secondary follicles isolated from macaque ovaries (n = 4 animals) were cultured in media containing FSH alone, or with norepinephrine (NE), isoproterenol (ISO). Follicles were grouped depending upon their diameter (at day 35) and the absence or presence of ADRB-2. Note that ADRB-positive follicles were significantly (P < 0.05) larger at d35 for all treatment groups. However, adrenergic treatment did not affect the diameters either ADRB-2-negative or -positive follicles (nonparametric one-way ANOVA (Kruskal-Wallis test) followed by Dunns post-test (alpha = 0.1)). Lines represent medians for the respective groups. (B) Follicle diameter and growth in culture depends on the presence of ADRB-2. Diameters of ADRB-2-positive (red; n = 16) and ADRB-2-negative follicles (green; n = 67) at beginning (d_start) and end (d_end) of culture. The lines show the linear correlation between diameters at the beginning and end of culture.