Population of Follicles and Luteal Structures during the Oestrous Cycle of Mares Detected by Three-Dimensional Internal Structure Microscopy |
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| Authors: | Y. Hirano J. Kimura Y. Nambo H. Yokota S. Nakamura S. Takemoto R. Himeno T. Mishima M. Matsui Y.-I. Miyake |
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| Affiliation: | Addresses of authors: Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan;;Laboratory of Theriogenology, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan;;College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea;;The Japan Racing Association, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Hokkaido, Japan;;Computational Biomechanics Unit, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan;;Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan;;Corresponding author: Tel.: +81-155-49-5380;fax: +81-155-49-5384;e-mail:;;Present address: Y. Hirano, Laboratory of Public Health, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan |
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| Abstract: | The structure of the equine ovary is different from that of other mammals in its extremely large size, the presence of ovarian fossa and the inverted location of its cortex and medulla. A three-dimensional internal structure microscopy (3D-ISM), which consists of a computer-controlled slicer, a CCD camera, a laser disc recorder and a PC, is very useful for the observation of the internal structures in equine ovaries. In addition, the three-dimensional images of follicles and corpus luteum (CL) reconstructed by the segmentation technique can clarify the spatial arrangement in the equine ovary. In this study, to understand the changes in the ovarian internal structures of the mare during the oestrous cycle, the size and numbers of follicles and luteal structures were analysed by 3D-ISM in addition to the concentrations of progesterone (P4) and oestradiol-17β. As a result, many small follicles (<10 mm in diameter) were detected. It was recognized that the luteal structures were distinguished into three types, such as the corpus haemorragicum (CH), which is formed by blood elements at the cavity after ovulation, CL and corpus albican (CA). There were some CHs and CL in the group, which had the concentration of P4 > 1 ng/ml. CHs were also observed in the group, which had low level of P4 (P4 < 1 ng/ml). CAs were found regardless of the P4 level. In conclusion, 3D-ISM enabled the internal observation of the ovarian structures in detail, and estimation of the stage of the ovarian cycle with complementary physiological information. The findings by 3D-ISM provide basic information for clinical applications. |
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