Publication: Ovarian function of the algerian wild Libyan jird, Meriones libycus during seasonal reproductive cycle: histological and immunohistochemical expression
Authors
Smaï-Hamdidouche, Souaâd ; Gernigon-Spychalowicz, Thérèse ; Khammar, Farida ; Exbrayat, Jean Marie
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Publisher
F. Hernández y Juan F. Madrid. Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología
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DOI
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
Meriones libycus (Libyan jird), a nocturnal
Saharan rodent, is characterized by a seasonal
reproductive cycle with a short active phase (spring and
early summer) and a long resting period (late summer,
autumn, winter). Histological and immunohistochemical
techniques were performed in order to study the seasonal
variations in mature ovaries. During the breeding season,
the ovary showed a continuous cyclical activity, the
various stages of folliculogenesis from primordial to
preovulatory follicles were observed; broken follicles
and corpora lutea were also observed. During sexual
quiescence, the ovarian cycle was interrupted;
anovulation was observed without any corpus luteum.
Non mature antral follicles entered the atretic process.
Steroid and steroidogenic enzyme activities were studied
using indirect immunohistochemistry. 17ß-estradiol,
progesterone, testosterone hormones and P450
aromatase (P450 arom) were detected in the different
components of the ovary and in various stages of healthy
and atretic follicles during the seasonal reproductive
cycle. Our results indicate that during ovarian
folliculogenesis in breeding season steroids hormone and
P450 arom present important activities. In comparison
with the resting period, steroidogenesis and
steroidogenic enzyme activity became less pronounced
in the healthy preantral follicle; it seemed that steroid
biosynthesis was reduced and could be involved in the
stimulation and maintenance of the ovarian structural
integrity in early follicle development. In conclusion, the
histological and immunohistochemical seasonal
variations of ovaries in Meriones libycus support the
hypothesis that seasonal fluctuations are indirectly
involved in regulating reproduction, inducing significant
changes in both ovarian morphology and its hormonal
function.
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Citation
Histology and histopathology, Vol. 28, n.º 1 (2013)
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