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Immunocytochemical Localization of Aromatase in The Ovary of Superovulated Cattle, Pigs and Sheep

Immunocytokemisk lokalisation af aromatase i ovanet hos superovuleret kvæg, svin og får

Abstract

The localization of aromatase, an enzyme converting androgens to estrogen, in the ovaries of superovulated cattle, pigs and sheep was studied immunocytochemically in the preovulatory and postovulatory period using anti-human placental aromatase cytochrome P-450 antiserum. Immunostaining for aromatase was detected in the granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles of all species studied. Theca interna cells were stained in preovulatory follicles in the pig but not in cattle and sheep. Interstitial gland cells, cumulus cells and oocytes were unstained in all species. In cattle and pig the corpora lutea were unstained whereas they displayed staining in the sheep. Preantral and small antral follicles were unstained during both the preovulatory and postovulatory period in all species.

It is concluded that granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles are the main residence for aromatase activity in superovulated cattle, pig and sheep, whereas the activity of theca interna and corpora lutea is species specific.

Sammendrag

Den vævsmæssige lokalisation i ovariet af enzymet aromatase, som konverterer androgener til østrogen, er beskrevet i den præ-og postovulatoriske penode hos superovuleret kvæg, far og svm. Enzymet er lokaliseret ved immunocytokemi under brug af anti-human placental aromatase cytochrom P-450 antiserum. Der observeredes positiv lmmunreaktion i stratum granulosum i præovulatonske follikler hos alle arter, mens theca interna kun udviste lmmunreaktion hos svin. Cellerne i cumulus oophorus og selve oocyten udviste lkke lmmunreaktion hos no-gen af arterne. Cellerne i corpus luteum udviste positiv lmmunreaktion hos far, hvorimod de ikke reagerede hos kvæg og svin. Prænatrale og små antrale follikler udviste ingen lmmunreaktion hos nogen af arterne hverken præ-eller postovulatorisk. Det kan konkluderes, at stratum granulosum i præ-ovulatoriske follikler er den gennemgående lokalisation for enzymet aromatase hos superovuleret kvæg, far og svin, mens enzymets tilstedeværelse i theca interna og corpus luteum er artsspecifik.

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Lautincik, J., Kolodzieyski, L., Elias, V. et al. Immunocytochemical Localization of Aromatase in The Ovary of Superovulated Cattle, Pigs and Sheep. Acta Vet Scand 35, 185–191 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548346

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