title: Correlations among antral follicular echotexture, apoptosis and expression of key steroidogenic enzymes in sheep.
abstract: Nineteen cycling ewes underwent transrectal ultrasonography of ovaries followed by ovariectomies during the growth phase of the first follicular wave of the interovulatory interval or the proestrus/estrus phase of the cycle. Quantitative ultrasonographic characteristics of the antrum and follicular wall in a total of forty-three ovine antral follicles were examined for correlations with the protein expression of three steroidogenic enzymes (cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase, CYP17; cytochrome P450 aromatase, CYP19; and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 3β-HSD) determined by densitometric analysis of immunohistochemical slides, follicular dimensions, granulosa layer thickness and the percentage of apoptotic granulosa cells. Significant correlations were found between echotextural attributes of ovine antral follicles and the percentage of apoptotic granulosa cells, CYP17 expression (theca), CYP19 expression (granulosa) and 3β-HSD expression (theca cells). Computer-aided analyses of ultrasonographic images can be beneficial to the development of assisted reproductive technologies and diagnosis of hormonal imbalances without the need for ovarian biopsies or hormone assays.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph ON, N1G 2W1 Canada.
authors.forename: Taylor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vanduzer
authors.forename: Raj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duggavathi
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murawski
authors.forename: Dorota A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Zieba
authors.forename: Patrycja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sroka
authors.forename: Pawel M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bartlewski
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001141:Aromatase / Q000032:analysis*; D003720:Densitometry; D005260:Female; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000032:analysis*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D001141:Aromatase; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase
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