1. Intrabursal injection of vascular endothelial growth factor trap in eCG-treated prepubertal rats inhibits proliferation and increases apoptosis of follicular cells involving the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway 
Dalhia Abramovich, Ph.D., Griselda Irusta, Ph.D., Fernanda Parborell, Ph.D., Marta Tesone, Ph.D. 
Fertility and Sterility 
Volume 93, Issue 5, Pages (March 2010)
DOI: /j.fertnstert
Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

2. Figure 1
Effect of Trap treatment on PCNA protein levels in follicular cells. Upper panel: Densitometric quantification of PCNA in control and Trap-treated ovaries 48 h after injection. After homogenization, proteins were extracted, subjected to 12% SDS-PAGE, and transferred onto nitrocellulose membranes. Bars represent mean ± SEM. Each protein was normalized to actin B (n = 8; ∗P<.05; paired student t-test). Lower panel: Representative immunoblots of PCNA content in antral follicles from control and Trap-treated ovaries.
Fertility and Sterility  , DOI: ( /j.fertnstert )
Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

3. Figure 2
Effect of Trap treatment on the percentage of follicular cells positively immunostained for PCNA. Upper panel: Representative fields of ovarian sections immunostained for PCNA (100×). (A) Control ovary and (B) Trap-treated ovary. A portion of each section shows the detail observed at higher magnification (400×). Lower panel: PCNA expression analysis. (A) granulosa cells and (B) theca cells. Proliferation index was determined by counting labeled cells at 400× in randomly selected fields of antral follicles. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Four sections per ovary were analyzed (six ovaries/group). ∗P<.05; paired student t-test; n = 5. EAF = early antral follicle; GC = granulosa cell; TC = theca cell.
Fertility and Sterility  , DOI: ( /j.fertnstert )
Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

4. Figure 3
Effect of Trap treatment on cleavage of caspase 3 protein in antral follicles. Upper panel: Densitometric quantification of the caspase 3 active fragment p17 follicular content. Caspase 3 protein was visualized by using an anti-caspase 3 antibody that recognizes the procaspase and the p20, p17 and p11 fragments. Data indicate mean ± SEM normalized to actin B. (n = 8; ∗P<.05; paired student t-test). Lower panel: Representative immunoblot of caspase 3 protein content in antral follicles from control and Trap-treated ovaries.
Fertility and Sterility  , DOI: ( /j.fertnstert )
Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

5. Figure 4
Effect of Trap treatment on phosphorylation of AKT and BAD proteins in antral follicles. (A, upper panel) Densitometric quantification of pAKT/AKT in control and Trap-treated ovaries 4 and 8 h after injection. Bars represent mean ± SEM. Each protein was normalized to actin B (n = 8; ∗P<.05; paired student t-test). (Lower panel) Representative immunoblots of AKT and pAKT content in antral follicles from control and Trap-treated ovaries. (B, upper panel) Densitometric quantification of pBAD/BAD in control and Trap-treated ovaries 4 and 8 h after injection. Bars represent mean ± SEM. Each protein was normalized to actin B (n = 5; ∗P<.05; Paired Student t-test). (Lower panel) Representative immunoblots of BAD and pBAD content in antral follicles from control and Trap-treated ovaries.
Fertility and Sterility  , DOI: ( /j.fertnstert )
Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

6. Figure 5
Von Willebrand factor immunostaining in ovaries from control and Trap-treated rats. (Upper panel) Vessel networks and blood vessels marked with Anti-von Willebrand factor antibody in (A) control and (B) Trap-treated ovaries. (Lower panel) The percentage of endothelial cell area was determined by counting labeled cells in randomly selected 100X fields of ovarian sections (five sections/ovary, eight ovaries/group). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (magnification 100×). EAF = early antral follicle; AtF = atretic follicle.
Fertility and Sterility  , DOI: ( /j.fertnstert )
Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions