Fig. 2

Comparison of follicle numbers obtained by stereology using different fixative and embedding combinations. Follicle numbers in ovaries from mice treated with saline (a-f) or cyclophosphamide (g-l), were determined using stereology. Ovaries were fixed in Bouin’s or formalin and embedded in paraffin or resin and sectioned at 5 μm or 20 μm. Follicle numbers for each fixative and embedding material combination were compared to the Reference standard method of Bouin’s fixation, resin embedding and 20 μm sections. Differences in follicle number between ovaries from saline or cyclophosphamide treated mice were also analysed when stereology was applied to tissues fixed and embedded in different combinations (m-p). The analysis shown in M is the same as Fig. 1a, and is included here to enhance interpretation of (o-p). Data are represented as mean ± SEM; standard t-test (a-c, g, h, i, m-p) or correlation plots carried out using linear regression analysis (d-f, j-l); n = 5–6/group; ns = non-significant