Fig. 6From: Effect of the spatial–temporal specific theca cell Cyp17 overexpression on the reproductive phenotype of the novel TC17 mouseEstrous cycle and fertility assessment in TC17 mice. During the Dox treatment (8 weeks), the estrous cycle in CTRL and TC17 mice (N = 10) was assessed at 4 weeks after the start of the treatment. Proestrus was categorized by the presence of nucleated and some cornified epithelial cells, estrus by the presence of cornified cells, and metestrus/diestrus for the presence of some cornified epithelial cells and primarily leukocytes. A Percentage of the relative amount of time spent in each cycle stage, B Representative estrous cyclicity of six mice/group during 15 consecutive days. M/D, metestrus/diestrus phase; P, proestrus; E, estrus. C Schematic graphic of the experimental plan for the A separate cohort of female mice of TC17 and CTRL mice at 7-week-old was used to assess fertility. At 8 weeks of age, 1 week after treatment (N = 10) were paired with adult C57BL/6 N breeder males (3-months-old). Breeder males were removed after 10 days. Females were assessed for pregnancy rate (D), time (days) to first litter (E), and a number of pups/litter, means ± s.e.m. Data were analyzed using the two-tailed Mann–Whitney test (*p < 0.05)Back to article page