ISSN:
0002-9106
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
The hamster ovary has been studied histochemically for various lipids. The granulosa cells of normal follicles contain lipid bodies of various sizes composed mainly of phospholipids. Some lipid bodies also contain triglycerides, cholesterol and its esters. The theca cells contain lipid granules consisting of phospholipids. At the onset of atresia, the granulosa stores lipids abundantly which consist of triglycerides, cholesterol and its esters and a slight amount of phospholipids. The theca of atretic follicles, also stores lipids consisting of phospholipids first, and then in sequence phospholipids and triglycerides and finally phospholipids, triglycerides, cholesterol and its esters. The theca hypertrophies and persists to form the interstitial gland whereas the granulosa cells, with their lipid droplets, regress and disappear. The interstitial gland in the hamster ovary occurs as patches of various sizes and these are derived from the theca of atretic preantral and antral follicles. Most of the lipid droplets of the interstitial gland, are mobilized within the preovulatory ovary. The replenishment of lipid droplets begins on day 1 of the cycle (metestrus). On day 2, the interstitial gland is again filled with lipid droplets which are rich in cholesterol and its esters, triglycerides and phospholipids.In ovaries treated with pregnant mare's serum (PMS) on each of the days of the estrous cycle, numerous large preantral follicles having 4-7 layered granulosa, are stimulated to ovulate. Normally such follicles become atretic, indicating that a lack of sufficient endogenous pituitary gonadotrophins prevents these follicles from maturing. Neutral lipids, especially cholesterol and its esters, could not be demonstrated in the normal granulosa in the PMS-treated ovaries. The follicles, which were atretic at the time of injections, were not affected by exogenous hormones. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) did not conspicuously affect the growth of follicles. Both PMS and HCG caused mobilization of lipid droplets from the interstitial gland.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aja.1001160113
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