Maternal disturbance in activated sphingolipid metabolism causes pregnancy loss in mice
J. Clin. Invest. Kiyomi Mizugishi, et al. 117:2993 doi:10.1172/JCI30674 [Go to this article.]

Figure 1
Normal ovarian functions and implantation in Sphk1^–/–Sphk2^+/– female mice. (A) Representative photographs of H&E staining of ovaries (n = 3). (B) Serum P₄ levels on day 6.5 pc, day 7.5 pc, day 8.5 pc, and day 11.5 pc (n = 3). (C–E) Measurement of Sphk activity in ovariectomized wild-type females. The mice were given a single injection of E₂ (100 ng/mouse), a single injection of P₄ (2 mg/mouse), or E₂ plus P₄, and sacrificed 6 hours or 12 hours later (C and D). Another group of mice received a regimen designed to mimic the P₄ and E₂ levels during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy described in Methods (E). The assay was performed in the presence of Triton X-100 (C and E) or of BSA complexes without Triton X-100 (D and E). The data represent mean values ± SE (n = 3, *P < 0.01, paired Student’s t test). (F) Ovulation and fertilization rates on day 1.5 pc. Results of ovulation are mean values ± SE. n = 4 (wild-type), n = 3 (Sphk1^–/–Sphk2^+/–), unpaired Student’s t test. (G) Representative photographs of uteri with implantation sites (blue bands) on day 5.5 pc. Arrows indicate implantation sites. (H) The number and weight of implantation sites were examined on day 5.5 pc by the blue dye method. The data represent mean values ± SE. n = 3 (wild-type); n = 5 (Sphk1^–/–Sphk2^+/–); unpaired Student’s t test. Scale bars: 200 μm (A); 1 mm (G).