Feminization with strong loss-of-function mutations in the sex determination pathway delayed the time of onset and the severity of oocyte degeneration in
sacy-1(
tm5503) females (Figure 8 and Figure S3; S. Kim and D. Greenstein, unpublished results). In all female backgrounds tested,we observed oocytes in
sacy-1(
tm5503) females to undergo meiotic maturation and ovulation at apparently high rates;the uterus filled with unfertilized oocytes (Figure 8A and Figure S3C). We also observed apparently defective ovulation in
sacy-1(
tm5503) females such that the gonad arms often contained endomitotic oocytes. We confirmed that MSP was undetectable in
sacy-1(
tm5503) females as expected (Figure S6).