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Ultrastructure of Bovine Ovarian Follicles Induced to Extended Growth by Perioestrous Suprabasal Progesterone Levels

Ultrastrukturella förändringar i äggstocksfolliklar hos nötkreatur med experimentell förlängd tillväxtfas orsakad av suprabasala progesteronnivåer

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 37, pages 239–250 (1996)Cite this article

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to determine if a short-term prolonged growth of the ovulatory follicle (12 to 18 h after expected time of ovulation), induced by progesterone implants, would cause ultrastructural changes in the follicular wall. Oestrous behaviour, follicular growth, follicular and blood plasma levels of oestradiol-17ß, progesterone and plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) were monitored in heifers oophorectomized at 9 to 12 h (controls) or 36 h after the onset of oestrus, in order to sample the pre-ovulatory follicle present. The suprabasal plasma progesterone concentrations (approximately 1.2 nmol L−1) allowed expression of oestrus at the expected time, but ovulation was delayed owing to the absence of a LH-surge. The resulting prolongation of follicle growth was associated with mild degenerative changes in the follicle wall, i.e. both granulosa and thecal cells presented increased electron density, higher amounts of secondary lysosomes and lipid droplets, increased intercellular spaces with presence of debris. No signs of luteinization were seen.

Sammanfattning

Studien genomfördes för att undersöka om en kort tids förlängning (12–18 timmar efter förväntad ovulation) av tillväxtfasen hos den ovulatoriska follikeln hos kviga, kan orsaka ultrastrukturella förändringar i follikelväggen. Den förlängda tillväxtfasen framkallades genom implantat med progesteron. Kvigorna ovarieektomerades 9–12 timmar (kontroller) och 36 timmar (progesteronbehandlade) efter visad brunst och den ovulatoriska follikeln undersöktes med elektronmikroskopi. Det visade sig att en progesteronkoncentration på cirka 1.2 nmol L−1 i blodet gjorde att djuren visade brunst vid förväntad tidpunkt men ovulationen uteblev (ingen LH topp kunde registreras) och follikeln fortsatte att växa. Den förlängda tillväxten medförde att man elektronmikroskopiskt kunde se milda degenerativa förändringar i follikelväggen jämfört med hos kontrolldjuren. Såväl granulosa- som thecaceller hade en ökad elektrontäthet. Antalet sekundära lysosomer och fettdroppar ökade intracellulärt och mellan cellerna ökade mängden celldebris. Inga tecken på luteinisering av follikelväggen kunde skönjas.

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Acknowledgment

The authors wish to thank Ms Marianne Ekwall and Ms Asa Karlsson for their excellent technical assistance. This study received financial support from the Swedish Council for Forestry and Agricultural Research (SJFR).

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Author notes

  1. M. Duchens

    Present address: Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Chile, Casila 2, Santiago 15, Chile

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-75007, Uppsala, Sweden

    M. Duchens & H. Rodriguez-Martinez

  2. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden

    M. Forsberg

  3. Swedish Association for Livestock Breeding and Production, Eskilstuna, Sweden

    H. Gustafsson

Authors
  1. M. Duchens
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  2. H. Rodriguez-Martinez
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  3. M. Forsberg
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  4. H. Gustafsson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Rodriguez-Martinez.

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Duchens, M., Rodriguez-Martinez, H., Forsberg, M. et al. Ultrastructure of Bovine Ovarian Follicles Induced to Extended Growth by Perioestrous Suprabasal Progesterone Levels. Acta Vet Scand 37, 239–250 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548091

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Keywords

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147