title: Histological difference between retrograde corpora lutea of pregnancy and those of estrus in sika deer, Cervus nippon.
abstract: Histological characteristics of retrograde corpora lutea (RCL) were examined for 105 pairs of ovaries of adult female sika deer, Cervus nippon. Animals were captured in various seasons at Mt. Goyo, Iwate Prefecture, the northern part of Japan. No histological differences were recognizable between RCL of pregnancy and retrograde accessory corpora lutea (RACL), so far as examined by means of hematoxylin-eosin and Weigert's resorcin-fuchsin staining. They were both irregularly shaped and had well developed arteries in their thick capsules and a number of small arteries in the parenchyma. These arteries showed the proliferation of elastic fibers showing elastosis in older RCL. The total number of these retrograded bodies per female increased with age, suggesting that both the retrograded bodies would retain in the ovaries over 7 years. RCL of estrus were small hyaline bodies scattered with some degenerated luteal cells in the hyaline matrix. They were distinguishable from those of pregnancy since the capsule and parenchyma in those of estrus were poorer in blood vessels. RCL of estrus appeared in October and November but were rarely seen in February and March, suggesting that they will disappear within three months after ovulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Agriculture, Gifu University, Japan.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takatsuki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tiba
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000166:cytology*; D003670:Deer; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007564:Japan; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D013194:Staining and Labeling