Fig. 4

Representative images and the statistics of intercellular TZPs structures after heat exposure. (a) Images representing the TZPs variations during the oocytes in vitro maturation; (b) Changes of TZPs numbers during the oocytes development; (c) Changes of fluorescence intensity of F-actin in TZPs structures during the oocytes development. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Control, ovaries were kept in 38.5 °C water bath for 1 h, and then the isolated COCs were cultured in 38.5 °C for 0, 24 or 44 h; Heat, ovaries were kept in 41.5 °C water bath for 1 h, and then COCs were isolated and cultured in 38.5 °C for another 0, 24 or 44 h. ^{a, b, c, d} mean values not sharing the same letters are significantly different, P < 0.05 (n = 30)