Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-sv6ng Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-08-19T05:53:47.672Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Size distribution of steroidogenic and non-steroidogenic ovine luteal cells throughout pregnancy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

Get access

Abstract

The present study examines the size distribution of ovine steroidogenic and non-steroidogenic luteal cells throughout pregnancy. Cells were isolated from corpora lutea collected from early (< 8 weeks), mid (9 to 14 weeks) or late (15 to 18 weeks) stages of pregnancy. Cells were stained for 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) activity, a marker for steroidogenic cells. Both 3β-HSD positive and β-HSD negative cells covered a wide spectrum of size ranging from 7 to 37 μm in diameter. There was a significant increase (P > 0·01) in mean diameter of non-steroidogenic luteal cells as pregnancy progressed. Mean diameter of 3β-HSD negative cells increased from 17·8 (s.e. 0·4) μm in the corpus luteum of early stage of pregnancy to 22·4 (s.e. 0·3) μm in the corpus luteum of advanced pregnancy. However, there was no significant increase in the mean diameter of 3β-HSD positive cells. Corpora lutea obtained from early stages of the pregnancy contained more steroidogenic cells than the cells obtained from mid and late pregnancy (P < 0·01). Percentage of 3β-HSD negative cells had increased 2·07-fold by 18 weeks of pregnancy when compared with the early stage of pregnancy. In contrast, percentage of 3β-HSD positive cells had decreased to 50% of starting values during the same period (P < 0·05). These results indicate that the ovine corpus luteum of pregnancy is morphologically dynamic over the course of pregnancy. Steroidogenic activity of luteal cells may decrease as pregnancy progresses, especially activity of the large luteal cells.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alila, H. W. and Hansel, W. 1984. Origin of different cell types in the bovine corpus luteum as characterized by specific monoclonal antibodies. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 31: 10151025.Google ScholarPubMed
Arikan, S. and Rodway, R. G. 2000. Effects of cyclodextrin-encapsulated β-carotene on progesterone production by bovine luteal cells. Animal Reproduction Science 64: 149160.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Arikan, S. and Yigit, A. 2001. Size distribution of bovine steroidogenic luteal cells during pregnancy. Animal Science 73: 323327.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brannian, J. D., Stouffer, R. L., Shiigi, S. M. and Hoyer, P. B. 1993. Isolation of ovine luteal cell subpopulations by flow cytometry. Biology of Reproduction 48: 495502.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Casida, L. E. and Warwick, E. J. 1945. The necessity of the corpus luteum for maintenance of pregnancy in the ewes. Journal of Animal Science 4: 3436.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chegini, N., Ramani, N. and Rao, C. V. 1984. Morphological and biochemical characterization of small and large bovine luteal cells during pregnancy. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 37: 89102.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fitz, T. A., Mayan, M. H., Sawyer, H. R. and Niswender, G. D. 1982. Characterization of two steroidogenic cell types in the ovine corpus luteum. Biology of Reproduction 27: 703711.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grazul-Bilska, A.T, Redmer, D. A. and Reynolds, L. P. 1991. Secretion of angiogenic activity and progesterone by ovine luteal cell types in vitro . Journal of Animal Science 69: 20992107.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gregoraszczuk, E. L., Zieba, D., Wierzchos, E., Murawski, M. and Gertler, A. 2000. Placental lactogen as a regulator of luteal cells function during pregnancy in sheep. Theriogenology 53: 877885.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harrison, F. A. and Heap, R. B. 1978. Progesterone secretion during pregnancy in sheep with an autotransplanted adrenal and autotransplanted ovary. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 54: 153157.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harrison, L. M., Kenny, N. and Niswender, G. D. 1987. Progesterone production, LH receptors, and oxytocin secretion by ovine luteal cell types on days 6, 10 and 15 of the oestrous cycle and day 25 of pregnancy. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 79: 539548.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hild-Petrito, S.A, Shiigi, S. M. and Stouffer, R. L. 1989. Isolation and characterisation of cell subpopulations from the monkey corpus luteum of the menstrual cycle. Biology of Reproduction 40: 10751085.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoyer, P. B., Keyes, P. L. and Niswender, G. D. 1986. Size distribution and hormonal responsiveness of dispersed rabbit luteal cells during pseudopregnancy. Biology of Reproduction 34: 905910.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hoyer, P. B., Kong, W., Crichton, E.G., Bevan, L. and Krutzsch, P. H. 1988. Steroidogenic capacity and ultrastructural morphology of cultured ovine luteal cells. Biology of Reproduction 38: 909920.Google ScholarPubMed
Hoyer, P. B. and Niswender, G. D. 1985. The regulation of steroidogenesis is different in the two types of ovine luteal cells. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 63: 240248.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jainudeen, M. R. and Hafez, E. S. E. 1993. Gestation, prenatal physiology and parturition. In Reproduction in farm animals (ed. E.S.E. Hafez), pp. 213237. Lea and Febiger, Pennsylvania.Google Scholar
Joseph, M. M. and Mead, R. A. 1988. Size distribution of ferret luteal cells during pregnancy. Biology of Reproduction 39: 11591169.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kinnear, P. R. and Gray, C. D. 1994. SSPS for Windows made simple. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Surrey.Google Scholar
Kuarnaga, E., Kanuka, H., Hirabayashi, K., Suzuki, M., Nishihara, M. and Takahashi, M. 2000. Progesterone is a cell death suppressor that down-regulates Fas expression in rat corpus luteum. FEBS Letters 466: 279282.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lei, Z. M., Chegini, N. and Rao, C. H. V. 1991. Quantitative cell composition of human and bovine corpora lutea from various reproductive states. Biology of Reproduction 44: 11481156.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lindsay, D. R. 1991. Reproduction in the sheep and goat. In Reproduction in domestic animals (ed. Cupps, P. T.), pp. 491510. Academic Press Inc., San Diego, CA.Google Scholar
Linzell, J. L. and Heap, R. B. 1968. A comparison of progesterone metabolism in the pregnant sheep and goat; source of production and an estimation of uptake by some target organs. Journal of Endocrinology 41: 433438.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miyauchi, F. and Midgley, A. R. 1990. Morphologically and functionally distinct subpopulations of steroidogenic cells in corpora lutea during pregnancy in rats. Endocrinologia Japonica 37: 649663.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
O’Shaughnessy, P. J. and Wathes, D. C. 1985. Characteristics of bovine luteal cells in culture: morphology, proliferation and progesterone secretion in different media and effects of LH, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, antioxidants and insulin. Journal of Endocrinology 104: 355361.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Payne, A. H., Downing, J. R. and Wong, K. L. 1980. Luteinizing hormone receptors and progesterone synthesis in two distinct populations of Leydig cells. Endocrinology 106: 14241429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rodgers, R. E., O’Shea, J. D. and Findlay, J. K. 1985. Do small and large luteal cells of the sheep interact in the production of progesterone. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 75: 8594.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schwall, R. H., Gamboni, F., Mayan, M. H. and Niswender, G. D. 1986. Changes in the distribution of sizes of ovine luteal cells during the oestrous cycle. Biology of Reproduction 34: 911916.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sivachelvan, M. N., Ghali Ali, M. and Chibuzo, G. A. 1996. Foetal age estimation in sheep and goats. Small Ruminant Research 19: 6976.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weber, D. M., Fields, P. A., Romrell, L. J., Tumwasorn, S., Ball, B. A., Drost, M. and Fields, M. J. 1987. Functional differences between small and large luteal cells of the late-pregnant vs. non-pregnant cow. Biology of Reproduction 37: 685697.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Webly, G. E., Richardson, M. C., Smith, C. A., Masson, G. M. and Hearn, J. P. 1990. Size distribution of luteal cells from pregnant and non-pregnant marmoset monkeys and a comparison of the morphology of marmoset luteal cells with those from the human corpus luteum. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 90: 437457.Google Scholar
Weems, Y. S., Bridges, P. J., Tanaka, Y., Sasser, R. G., LeaMaster, B. R., Vincent, D. L. and Weems, C. W. 1997. PGE1 or PGE2 not LH regulates secretion of progesterone in vitro by the 88-90 day ovine corpus luteum of pregnancy. Prostaglandins 53: 337353.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilkinson, R. F., Anderson, E. and Aalberg, J. 1976. Cytological observation of dissociated rat corpus luteum. Journal of Ultrastructure Research 57: 168184.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yigit, A. and Arikan, S. 2001. Changes in the size distribution of steroidogenic and non-steroidogenic bovine luteal cells during the oestrous cycle. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 25: 545550.Google Scholar