Fig. 4

HGF released from UC-MSCs promoted follicle survival via activation of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. a Scatter diagram showing the differentially expressed proteins between MSC-CM and Fib-CM using the 440-cytokine array. b KEGG pathway analysis exhibited the enriched pathways with many genes involved in the PI3K-AKT pathway. c H&E staining showing the ovary morphology at 8 days after exposure to LY294002. Scale bars = 50 μm. d Total follicles and e follicles at different stages were counted in different groups and compared after culturing for 8 days (n = 6 for each group). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. f Western blot showing the expression of germ cell markers SOHLH1 and DDX4 in the four groups after culturing for 8 days. g The expression of p-AKT and SOHLH1 in VCD-impaired ovaries after the addition of different concentrations of HGF was detected by western blot after 4 and 8 days of in vitro culture, respectively. h Western blot showing the expression of p-AKT and SOHLH1 in VCD-impaired ovaries after in vitro culturing for 4 and 8 days, respectively, in MSC-CM supplemented with different concentrations of HGF neutralization antibody (HGF Ab)