Fig. 2. A dose response of oocyte-secreted factors on cumulus cell apoptosis in the absence (A) or presence (B) of FSH. Oocytectomized complexes (OOX) were cultured with increasing numbers of denuded oocytes (DO) and at the maximum dose were effective at reducing apoptosis to the control COC levels. FSH also significantly reduced apoptosis in COCs and OOXs. Points represent average percentage of apoptotic cumulus cells (mean ±s.e.m.). Values from points with different labels; ^a,b,cdiffer significantly (P<0.001).