Fig. 5. Effect of blocking contact between oocytes and cumulus cells on the elevated Pfkp and Ldha mRNA expression in OOX cumulus cells cultured with oocytes in vitro. (A) Contact between OOX cumulus cells and oocytes was prevented with a glass capillary. (B) A representative photograph of the culture condition. Scale bar: 200 µm. (C) Relative mRNA levels of Pfkp and Ldha in cumulus cells cultured alone (None), with oocytes (+Oocyte), or with oocytes but with contact prevented with the glass capillary [+Oocyte (no contact)]. The glass capillary was present in all cultures, even when there were no oocytes (None) or contact was allowed (+Oocyte). Mean±s.e.m. The values indicated by different letters (a, b) are significantly different (P<0.05).