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Fig. 3. Pattern of apoptosis within cumulus complexes in relation to proximity to oocyte-secreted factor origin. Diameters of unexpanded COCs and OOXs were measured after culture without FSH, using confocal microscopy and divided into three layers: inner, middle and outer layers. Each layer representing 33% of the radius (A). The incidence of apoptosis was lowest closest to the oocyte, regardless of whether the oocyte was inside the complex [(C), COC inner layer] or oocytes were on the outside of the complex [(D), OOX outer layer], and apoptosis increased with increasing distance from the oocyte (B). Both C and D images are exaggerated examples to illustrate pictorially the morphogenic gradient of apoptosis through the cumulus cell layers. *Significantly different (two-way ANOVA; P=0.026).
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