Follicular development and ovulation in macrophage colony-stimulating factor-deficient mice homozygous for the osteopetrosis (op) mutation.
To clarify the role of macrophages and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in follicular development and ovulation, the processes of folliculogenesis and ovulation, numerical changes in macrophages, and proliferative capacity of granulosa cells were examined in op/op mice before or after daily M-CSF administration. The natural estrous cycle was determined daily by means of vaginal smears. The number of ovulated ova in both fallopian tubes was significantly smaller in op/op mice than in normal littermates. Such ova markedly increased in number after daily M-CSF administration. The numbers of both antral and mature follicles in the proestrous ovary were markedly lower in op/op mice than in the controls and increased after daily M-CSF administration. Flash-labeling with [3H]thymidine showed that the proliferative capacity of granulosa cells in antral follicles was reduced in op/op mice but elevated after daily M-CSF administration. Numbers of granulosa cells and macrophages in the antral follicles were significantly decreased in op/op mice but were increased after M-CSF treatment. All these data provide evidence that macrophages are implicated in the process of folliculogenesis and ovulation.
Araki
M
M
Second Department of Pathology, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Japan.
Fukumatsu
Y
Y
Katabuchi
H
H
Shultz
L D
LD
Takahashi
K
K
Okamura
H
H
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006720:Homozygote; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000172:deficiency*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009154:Mutation; D010022:Osteopetrosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000473:pathology; D010060:Ovulation
D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor