1. Type VI collagen expression during growth of human ovarian follicles
Masaaki Iwahashi, M.D., Yasuteru Muragaki, M.D., Akira Ooshima, M.D., Ryosuke Nakano, M.D. 
Fertility and Sterility 
Volume 74, Issue 2, Pages (August 2000)
DOI: /S (00)00618-X

2. Figure 1
Immunofluorescence micrographs of human ovarian follicles immunostained with an mAb specific for type VI collagen during follicular growth. No immunofluorescence was recognized in the control section. In addition, no immunofluorescence with the mAbs against type VI collagen was observed in a primordial follicle and a primary follicle obtained during the early follicular phase (data not shown). The primordial and primary follicles from three different patients were examined. Immunofluorescence began to appear in the theca cell layers of a secondary follicle obtained during the midfollicular phase (data not shown). The secondary follicles from two different patients were examined. In a tertiary follicle obtained during the late follicular phase, intense immunostaining for type VI collagen was seen in a fibrillary pattern in the theca cell layers, especially the theca externa (A). The tertiary follicles from three different patients were examined. Weak, fragmented, and discontinuous immunostaining was observed in the theca cell layers of a preovulatory follicle (diameter of follicles, 18–22 mm) obtained during the late follicular phase (B, C). This fragmented or discontinuous immunostaining was more evident in the apical portion (C) of the preovulatory follicle than in the basal region (B). The preovulatory follicles from three different patients were examined. No immunostaining was observed in the granulosa cells. A = antrum; G = granulosa cell layer; TI = theca interna layer; TE = theca externa layer. (Original magnification, ×250.)
Iwahashi. Type IV collagen expression. Fertil Steril 2000.
Fertility and Sterility  , DOI: ( /S (00)00618-X)

3. Figure 2
In situ hybridization for α1(VI) collagen mRNA in tertiary follicles. In situ hybridization of a section with the antisense α1(VI) probe is shown under bright-field (B) and dark-field (C) conditions. An adjacent section hybridized with the sense α1(VI) probe is shown under bright-field conditions (A). The antisense probe hybridized strongly to the theca interna layers of a developing follicle (B, C) obtained during the midfollicular phase, whereas no hybridization signal was seen in the granulosa cell layer. G = granulosa cell layer; TI = theca interna layer. (Original magnification, ×125.)
Iwahashi. Type IV collagen expression. Fertil Steril 2000.
Fertility and Sterility  , DOI: ( /S (00)00618-X)