Fig. 6
Effect of different hormonal treatments on the percentage of follicles presenting atretic/cystic signs. Upper panel Representative images of typical morphological changes in antral follicle walls of ovaries isolated from controls (a) compared to DHEA-treated mice (b, c, d, e, f), stained with hematoxylin and eosin. In the control (a) theca externa, theca interna, basal membrane and granulosa cells layers appear normal. b, c and d represent progressive changes associated with follicular atresia (ie. pyknosis, disruption of the basement membrane (asterisks) and of granulosa layers (white arrows) and invasion of blood cells). Cystic features are described by thin and elongated epithelioid cells in the inner surface of the wall (e, black arrows) and macrophages in the cystic fluid (f, red arrows). Bar = 50 μm. Lower panel The effect of different hormonal treatment was evaluated on the population of antral follicles >300 μm of diameter. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, followed by Fisher’s LSD multiple comparison test; different letters indicate significant differences between groups (P <0.05)