title: Denervation of the porcine ovaries performed during the early luteal phase influenced morphology and function of the gonad.
abstract: We studied both morphology and steroidogenic activity of ovaries in gilts after bilateral surgical denervation performed on day 3 of the estrous cycle. Blood samples were collected from day 4 of the first estrous cycle to day 11 of the subsequent cycle. Denervation resulted in a dramatic reduction in the number or in the disappearance of tyrosine hydroxylase/dopamine-beta-hydroxylase- and/or neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive nerve fibres. On day 11 of the second cycle, the number of follicles (3-6 mm in diameter) was lower (p<0.001) in the denervated ovaries, while corpora lutea were not present. Neurectomy also led to a decrease in the concentrations of progesterone, androstendione and 17beta-estradiol in the follicular fluid originated from small (1-3 mm in diameter) as well as medium-sized follicles (3-6 mm in diameter). Similar to follicular fluid, concentration of androstendione in the follicular wall of medium-sized follicles decreased in experimental gilts in comparison to that of control animals. In addition, plasma concentrations of LH and steroid hormones were lower in the control than in the experimental group. Our results show that denervation of ovaries during the early luteal phase of the estrous cycle in gilts resulted in the changes in both morphology and steroidogenic activity. These results confirm the important role of the peripheral nerves in the function of ovaries.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima. baja@pan.olsztyn.pl
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jana
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dzienis
authors.forename: Jadwiga
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pańczyszyn
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rogozińska
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wojtkiewicz
authors.forename: Cezary
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Skobowiat
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majewski
mesh_terms: D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000032:analysis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000032:analysis; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003714:Denervation / Q000662:veterinary*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D030762:Estrous Cycle; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D008183:Luteal Phase; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D013552:Swine; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D000735:Androstenedione; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D001141:Aromatase; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme