(A). Quantitative reverse-transcription, polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) with total RNA extracted from newborn brain (Br), heart (He), intestines (In), kidney (Ki), liver (Li), lung (Lu), muscle (Mu), ovary (Ov), spleen (Sp), testis (Te), uterus (Ut) and pancreas (Pa) expressed as a percent of GAPDH. (B). In situ hybridization of fixed, paraffin-embedded 4 μm ovarian sections probed with DIG-labeled antisense (left) or sense (right) synthetic Floped oligonucleotides. Scale bar, 50 μm. (C). qRT-PCR of Floped (blue bars) and Figla expression (grey background) using total RNA isolated at embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5) to E19.5, newborn (NB), 1–7 days post-partum (dpp) and at six weeks (6wk). (D). Eggs and two-cell embryos were isolated, fixed and stained with peptide-purified antibodies to FLOPED or with Hoechst and phalloidin which bind to DNA and F-actin, respectively. Morphology of eggs and early embryos was observed with differential interference contrast (DIC). (E). Total ovarian RNA was primed with oligo dT and PCR with P1 and P2 primers (Supplemental Data) produced a 229 bp band in normal (+/+) and heterozygote (+/−), but not in Floped null (−/−) mice (left). RT-PCR with P1 and P3 primers produced a 361 bp band in null (−/−) and in heterozygote (+/−), but not in normal mice (right). M, molecular mass markers. (F). Immunoblots of total ovarian extract (20 μg) and 10 ovulated eggs from heterozygous (+/−) or homozygous (−/−) Floped null mice were probed with anti-FLOPED antibody. (G). Plastic embedded ovarian sections from homozygous (top) and control heterozygous (bottom) Floped null mice. (H). Ovulated eggs from hormonally stimulated homozygous (top) and control heterozygous (bottom,) Floped null mice were imaged by DIC.