Fig. 10

Effects of miR-101-3p and STC1 on ovarian development in mice. Twelve mice are divided into four groups and treated with NC (100 μL saline), miR-101-3p agonists (miR-101-3p-ag; 10 nmol per time, with 100 μL saline), miR-101-3p antagonist (miR-101-3p-antag; 20 nmol per time, with 100 μL saline) or siRNA-STC1 (si-STC1; 20 nmol per time, with 100 μL saline). a FISH is performed to identify the distribution and expression levels of miR-101-3p in mouse ovaries. The nucleus stained by DAPI is blue under ultraviolet excitation, and the positive expression is green fluorescence of the corresponding fluorescein-labelled FAM. The red arrows represent a small amount of fluorescence of miR-101-3p. b Immunohistochemistry exhibits the expressions of STC1 in dissected mouse ovaries. SABC-positive cells are dyed in brown, while cell nuclei are dyed with DAPI in blue. The area of positive cells (Area), mean optical density (Mean Density), and integrated optical density (IOD) are effective indicators for semi-quantitative analysis of immunohistochemistry results. c The mouse ovarian morphology is observed using HE staining. The sections are stained with hematoxylin in blue purple, and stained with eosin in red. d After HE staining, the follicles are counted at each stage. Follicle counting principles are as follows: primordial follicles: oocytes surrounded by a layer of flat granulosa cells or mixed cells of flat and cubic granulosa cells (total cell number < 7); primary follicles: oocytes surrounded by more than 7 cubic granulosa cells; secondary follicles: oocytes surrounded by more than 2 layers granular cells; early antral follicles: oocytes surrounded by 2–4 layers granulosa cells and contained a follicular antrum (diameter < 20 μm); antral follicles: follicles with an obvious follicular antrum. Red lines represent scale bars. Values are expressed as mean ± SD of n = 3. Superscripts (a, b, c) show significant difference