Data for: Expression of the autophagy-related protein LC3B in granulosa cells, cumulus cells, and oocyte during atresia of pig antral follicles

However, recent studies have suggested that autophagy may be an alternative mechanism involved in follicle depletion, working independently or in tandem with apoptosis. This research investigated by western blot and immunofluorescence the expression of LC3B protein in freshly collected granulosa cells (GC), cumulus cells (CC), and oocytes to evaluate the involvement of autophagy in the process of antral follicle atresia in sexually mature sows.

Moreover, apoptosis was analysed by Annexin V and TUNEL assays in the same cellular cohorts to evaluate the correlation between the two processes. Our immunostaining results show that the autophagy is induced in the majority of GC, CC, and oocytes collected from early and advanced atretic follicles. The quantitative results of western blot analysis demonstrate that a significant (P < 0.05) and progressive increase of expression of the autophagy-related form of the protein (LC3B-II) takes places in these cells compared to healthy ones.