Journal: Cell Death Discovery

Article Title: Exocyst complex component 1 ( Exoc1) loss in dormant oocyte disrupts c-KIT and growth differentiation factor (GDF9) subcellular localization and causes female infertility in mice

doi: 10.1038/s41420-025-02291-5

Figure Lengend Snippet: Follicle growth in the ovaries of 4, 8, 10, and 12-week-old Exoc1-G -cKO ( Exoc1 flox/flox :: Gdf9 +/Cre ) and control Exoc1-G -ctrl ( Exoc1 +/flox :: Gdf9 +/Cre ) mice. A Representative Haematoxylin and Eosin staining images of Exoc1-G -cKO mice ovaries. No antral follicles were observed in Exoc1-G -cKO mice ovaries that were eight weeks old. No follicles were observed at any stage in 28-week-old Exoc1-G -cKO mice. Scale bar = 500 μm. B Representative Haematoxylin and Eosin staining images of primordial, primary, secondary and antral follicle in 4-week-old Exoc1-G -cKO ovary. Scale bar = 20 μm. C Follicle count in ovaries in Exoc1-G -cKO mice. No secondary follicles were observed in the Exoc1-G -cKO mice that were 10 and 12 weeks old. n = 3, Student’s t test.

Article Snippet: Exoc1 tm1a (EUCOMM)Hmgu mice were obtained from the International Knockout Mouse Consortium and the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium [ ] and Exoc1 tm1b (EUCOMM)Hmgu (referred as Exoc1 LacZ ) and Exoc1 tm1c (EUCOMM)Hmgu (referred as Exoc1 flox ) mice were derived from Exoc1 tm1a (EUCOMM)Hmgu mice using the same methods as described in a previous report [ ].

Techniques: Control, Staining

Journal: Cell Death Discovery

Article Title: Exocyst complex component 1 ( Exoc1) loss in dormant oocyte disrupts c-KIT and growth differentiation factor (GDF9) subcellular localization and causes female infertility in mice

doi: 10.1038/s41420-025-02291-5

Figure Lengend Snippet: Images of harvested ovaries nine weeks after ovary transplantation from three-week-old Exoc1-G -cKO ( Exoc1 flox/flox :: Gdf9 +/Cre ) and Exoc1-G -ctrl ( Exoc1 +/flox :: Gdf9 +/Cre ) mice into three-week-old ROSA GRR/GRR mice. A Representative immunofluorescence images for green fluorescence protein and Haematoxylin and Eosin staining. Dashed circles: transplanted donor ovarian regions a, c: Oocytes in donor ovaries. b, d: Oocytes in recipient ovaries. Scale bar = 500 µm (at low magnification), scale bar = 50 µm (high magnification). B Follicle growth in donor ovaries. Primordial and primary follicles, but not secondary follicles, were found in the Exoc1-G -cKO donor ovaries. C Comparison of transplanted and non-transplanted Exoc1-G -cKO mice ovaries. The number of primordial oocytes was significantly higher in transplanted Exoc1-G -cKO ovaries than in non-transplanted Exoc1-G -cKO mice ovaries (9 + 3 and 12 weeks). Three ovarian regions per mouse were measured, and the number of primordial oocytes in nine regions, 3 regions ×3 mice, was plotted. One-way analysis of variance.

Article Snippet: Exoc1 tm1a (EUCOMM)Hmgu mice were obtained from the International Knockout Mouse Consortium and the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium [ ] and Exoc1 tm1b (EUCOMM)Hmgu (referred as Exoc1 LacZ ) and Exoc1 tm1c (EUCOMM)Hmgu (referred as Exoc1 flox ) mice were derived from Exoc1 tm1a (EUCOMM)Hmgu mice using the same methods as described in a previous report [ ].

Techniques: Transplantation Assay, Immunofluorescence, Fluorescence, Staining, Comparison

Journal: Cell Death Discovery

Article Title: Exocyst complex component 1 ( Exoc1) loss in dormant oocyte disrupts c-KIT and growth differentiation factor (GDF9) subcellular localization and causes female infertility in mice

doi: 10.1038/s41420-025-02291-5

Figure Lengend Snippet: A Morphology of oocytes in primary follicles in Exoc1-G -cKO ( Exoc1 flox/flox :: Gdf9 +/Cre ) ovaries compared to that of the control ( Exoc1 +/flox :: Gdf9 +/Cre ). White line: measured diameter. Scale bar = 20 μm. B Diameter of oocytes in primordial and primary follicles in Exoc1-G -cKO mice. The diameter of oocytes in primordial follicles between control and Exoc1-G -cKO mice showed no significant differences. In contrast, the oocytes in primary follicles in Exoc1-G -cKO mice showed significantly shorter diameters than those in control mice. n = 3, Student’s t test.

Article Snippet: Exoc1 tm1a (EUCOMM)Hmgu mice were obtained from the International Knockout Mouse Consortium and the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium [ ] and Exoc1 tm1b (EUCOMM)Hmgu (referred as Exoc1 LacZ ) and Exoc1 tm1c (EUCOMM)Hmgu (referred as Exoc1 flox ) mice were derived from Exoc1 tm1a (EUCOMM)Hmgu mice using the same methods as described in a previous report [ ].

Techniques: Control

Journal: Cell Death Discovery

Article Title: Exocyst complex component 1 ( Exoc1) loss in dormant oocyte disrupts c-KIT and growth differentiation factor (GDF9) subcellular localization and causes female infertility in mice

doi: 10.1038/s41420-025-02291-5

Figure Lengend Snippet: A Representative immunofluorescence images of 10-week-old Exoc1-G -cKO ( Exoc1 flox/flox :: Gdf9 +/Cre ) and Exoc1-G -ctrl ( Exoc1 +/flox :: Gdf9 +/Cre ) mice ovaries. The c-KIT signals were observed mainly on the plasma membrane in oocytes in primary follicles of control mice. In contrast, extensive c-KIT dot-like signals were detected in the oocyte cytoplasm in primary follicles of Exoc1-G -cKO mice. Scale bar = 20 μm. B Area ratio of plasma membrane c-KIT (c-KIT co-localised with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), WGA+::KIT+) to cytoplasmic c-KIT (c-KIT not co-localised with WGA, WGA-::KIT+). n = 3, Student’s t test. C Signal intensity ratio of plasma membrane c-KIT to cytoplasmic c-KIT. n = 3, Student’s t test. D Intensity of the total KIT signal in each oocyte. n = 3, Student’s t test.

Article Snippet: Exoc1 tm1a (EUCOMM)Hmgu mice were obtained from the International Knockout Mouse Consortium and the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium [ ] and Exoc1 tm1b (EUCOMM)Hmgu (referred as Exoc1 LacZ ) and Exoc1 tm1c (EUCOMM)Hmgu (referred as Exoc1 flox ) mice were derived from Exoc1 tm1a (EUCOMM)Hmgu mice using the same methods as described in a previous report [ ].

Techniques: Immunofluorescence, Clinical Proteomics, Membrane, Control

Journal: Cell Death Discovery

Article Title: Exocyst complex component 1 ( Exoc1) loss in dormant oocyte disrupts c-KIT and growth differentiation factor (GDF9) subcellular localization and causes female infertility in mice

doi: 10.1038/s41420-025-02291-5

Figure Lengend Snippet: A Macroscopic Haematoxylin and Eosin-stained images of PTEN inhibitor bpV-treated Exoc1-G -cKO (bpV- Exoc1-G -cKO) mice ovaries. Scale bar = 500 μm. B Representative primary follicles of each mouse genotype (10 weeks old). The control mice were Exoc1 +/flox :: Gdf9 +/Cre , referred to as Exoc1-G- ctrl. Scale bar = 50 μm. C Plots of the oocyte sizes in primary follicles of each mouse genotype at 10 weeks of age. n = 3, one-way analysis of variance. Oocyte diameters in primary follicles in bpV Exoc1-G -cKO mice were significantly longer than those in Exoc1 - G -cKO mice. In the bpV Exoc1-G -cKO group, enlarged oocytes appeared in primary follicles (plots circled by dashed line), which were absent in the control group.

Article Snippet: Exoc1 tm1a (EUCOMM)Hmgu mice were obtained from the International Knockout Mouse Consortium and the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium [ ] and Exoc1 tm1b (EUCOMM)Hmgu (referred as Exoc1 LacZ ) and Exoc1 tm1c (EUCOMM)Hmgu (referred as Exoc1 flox ) mice were derived from Exoc1 tm1a (EUCOMM)Hmgu mice using the same methods as described in a previous report [ ].

Techniques: Staining, Control

Journal: Cell Death Discovery

Article Title: Exocyst complex component 1 ( Exoc1) loss in dormant oocyte disrupts c-KIT and growth differentiation factor (GDF9) subcellular localization and causes female infertility in mice

doi: 10.1038/s41420-025-02291-5

Figure Lengend Snippet: Tamoxifen was injected into eight-week-old Exoc1 - D -cKO ( Exoc1 flox/flox :: Ddx4 +/CreERT2 ) and Exoc1 - D -ctrl ( Exoc1 flox/+ :: Ddx4 +/CreERT2 ) mice. A Oocyte count in ovaries in 16-week-old mice. No growing follicles were observed in the Exoc1 - D -cKO mice. N = 3, Student’s t test. B Representative immunofluorescence images of 16-week-old Exoc1 - D -cKO and control mice ovaries. The c-KIT signals were observed mainly on the plasma membrane of oocytes in the primary follicles of control mice, whereas exclusive c-KIT signals were observed in the cytoplasm of oocytes in primary follicles of Exoc1 - D -cKO mice. Scale bar = 20 μm C Area ratio of plasma membrane c-KIT (c-KIT co-localised with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), WGA + ::KIT + ) to cytoplasmic c-KIT (c-KIT not co-localised with WGA, WGA-::KIT+). D Intensity ratio of plasma membrane to cytoplasmic c-KIT. E Intensity of the total KIT signal in each oocyte. N = 3, Student’s t test. F Representative immunofluorescence images of 16-week-old Exoc1 - D -cKO and control mice ovaries. Most GDF9 signals were found in the extra-oocyte region of the Exoc1 - D -ctrl mice primary follicles. However, GDF9 signals were mostly localised in ooplasm of the primary follicles of Exoc1 - D -cKO mice. Blue dashes: Follicle area. White dashes: oocyte areas in primary follicles. Scale bar = 20 μm G Plot of the sum of the GDF9 signal intensities in each follicle. No significant differences were observed among the two groups. H Plot of the GDF9 signal intensity in the oocytes in primary follicles only. Oocyte GDF9 levels in Exoc1 - D -cKO mice were significantly higher than those in the control. I The ratio of GDF9 signal intensity between the extra-oocyte and follicle area. GDF9 signals were found mainly in oocyte cytoplasm of Exoc1 - D -cKO primary follicles. N = 3, Student’s t test.

Article Snippet: Exoc1 tm1a (EUCOMM)Hmgu mice were obtained from the International Knockout Mouse Consortium and the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium [ ] and Exoc1 tm1b (EUCOMM)Hmgu (referred as Exoc1 LacZ ) and Exoc1 tm1c (EUCOMM)Hmgu (referred as Exoc1 flox ) mice were derived from Exoc1 tm1a (EUCOMM)Hmgu mice using the same methods as described in a previous report [ ].

Techniques: Injection, Immunofluorescence, Control, Clinical Proteomics, Membrane

Journal: Cell Death Discovery

Article Title: Exocyst complex component 1 ( Exoc1) loss in dormant oocyte disrupts c-KIT and growth differentiation factor (GDF9) subcellular localization and causes female infertility in mice

doi: 10.1038/s41420-025-02291-5

Figure Lengend Snippet: A Representative immunofluorescence images of 16-week-old Exoc1 - D- cKO ( Exoc1 flox/flox :: Ddx4 +/CreERT2 ) and Exoc1 - D- ctrl ( Exoc1 flox/+ :: Ddx4 +/CreERT2 ) primary follicles. FOXO3a signals concentrated in the nucleus of Exoc1 - D- cKO oocytes in primary follicles. Scale bar = 10 µm. B The signal intensity of FOXO3a in the nucleus of oocytes in primary follicles. n = 3, Student’s t test. C Representative PCNA and FOXL2, a marker of granulosa cells, co-immunofluorescence images of 16-week-old Exoc1 - D- cKO and control primary follicles. Scale bar = 10 µm. D The percentage of PCNA-positive granulosa cells in the primary follicles of Exoc1-D- cKO mice was significantly lower than that in the control. n = 3, Student’s t test.

Article Snippet: Exoc1 tm1a (EUCOMM)Hmgu mice were obtained from the International Knockout Mouse Consortium and the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium [ ] and Exoc1 tm1b (EUCOMM)Hmgu (referred as Exoc1 LacZ ) and Exoc1 tm1c (EUCOMM)Hmgu (referred as Exoc1 flox ) mice were derived from Exoc1 tm1a (EUCOMM)Hmgu mice using the same methods as described in a previous report [ ].

Techniques: Immunofluorescence, Marker, Control

Journal: Cell Death Discovery

Article Title: Exocyst complex component 1 ( Exoc1) loss in dormant oocyte disrupts c-KIT and growth differentiation factor (GDF9) subcellular localization and causes female infertility in mice

doi: 10.1038/s41420-025-02291-5

Figure Lengend Snippet: A Intensity level of plasma membrane c-KIT. The c-KIT located in plasma membrane of Exoc1-D- cKO-E ( Exoc1 flox/flox :: Ddx4 +/CreERT2 ) oocytes at postnatal day 0 (P0) compared to control group Exoc1 - D -ctrl-E ( Exoc1 flox/+ :: Ddx4 +/CreERT2 . B Representative Haematoxylin and Eosin staining images of Exoc1-D- cKO-E ovaries at P5. Dashed white line: oocytes in the cyst. Hashtag: single follicles. C Total number of oocytes in ovaries, follicles, and cysts of both groups. The number of oocytes in cyst of Exoc1-D- cKO-E ovaries was significantly higher than those in control. n = 3, Student’s t test. D Representative ovaries and Macroscopic Haematoxylin and Eosin-stained images of Exoc1-D -cKO-E and Exoc1-D- ctrl-E mice that were 10 weeks old. Dashed black line: ovary area. Asterisk: follicles observed on the ovary surface. Scale bar = 500 µm. E Ovary maximum diameter. Exoc1-D -cKO-E ovaries were smaller than those of the control group. F Oocyte counts in whole ovaries at 10 weeks of age. Secondary and antral follicles were absent in the Exoc1-D -cKO-E mice. n = 3, Student’s t test. G Oocyte area of primary follicles. Oocytes in primary follicles of Exoc1-D -cKO-E mice were significantly smaller than those in control group. n = 3, Student’s t test.

Article Snippet: Exoc1 tm1a (EUCOMM)Hmgu mice were obtained from the International Knockout Mouse Consortium and the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium [ ] and Exoc1 tm1b (EUCOMM)Hmgu (referred as Exoc1 LacZ ) and Exoc1 tm1c (EUCOMM)Hmgu (referred as Exoc1 flox ) mice were derived from Exoc1 tm1a (EUCOMM)Hmgu mice using the same methods as described in a previous report [ ].

Techniques: Clinical Proteomics, Membrane, Control, Staining