Fig. 3

YJD affected ovarian function in POF rats. (A) Vaginal exfoliated cell smears were used to observe the morphological changes of cells at various stages of the estrous cycle of rats; Red arrows point to nucleated epithelial cells; Blue arrows point to keratinized cells; Green arrows point to white blood cells; (Note: The estrous cycle of rats is 4 ~ 5 days. The morphological changes in vaginal cytological smears of the rat estrous cycle were categorized as proestrus, estrus, metoestrus, and diestrus. After rats were modeled with TP, L-YJD, M-YJD and H-YJD as well as DHEA positive controls were added. (B-C) From the beginning of drug administration (D1), the estrous cycle of each rat was examined daily by vaginal smear, and the estrous cycles of the different groups were counted. (D) Since the beginning of drug administration (D1), the dynamic changes in body weight of rats in each group were counted. (E) Bilateral intact ovary weights were weighed. (F) Ovarian index was calculated (ovarian index = bilateral ovarian wet weight (mg)/body weight (g) × 100%). (G) Ovarian tissue morphology was observed by HE staining and light microscopy; Black arrows point to the follicle. (H–L) The number of follicles at each level in HE staining was counted. (Primordial follicle: oocyte surrounded by a layer of flattened granulosa cells; Primary follicle: oocyte surrounded by a layer of cuboidal granulosa cells; Secondary follicle: oocyte with two or more layers of cuboidal granulosa cells, and without follicular sinus; Sinus follicle: follicular sinus cavity is large, with a pronounced cumulus; Atretic follicle: follicular wall collapsed with damage to the structure of the oocyte, and the loss of hyaline zone.) *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. Control; ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01, ^###P < 0.001 vs. TP; ^&P < 0.05, ^&&P < 0.01, ^&&&P < 0.001 vs. TP + M-YJD