title: Unilaminar follicular cells transiently express galectin-3 during ovarian folliculogenesis in pigs.
abstract: The localization of galectin-3, a β-galactoside-binding animal lectin, was immunohistochemically studied in the ovaries of pigs to determine its expression in ovarian folliculogenesis. Various stages of ovarian follicles were identified in the ovaries of adult pigs. Galectin-3 was immunostained in the squamous follicular cells surrounding oocytes in primordial follicles and in the unilaminar granulosa cells of primary follicles, but not in oocytes of multilaminar follicles (including primary, secondary, and tertiary Graafian follicles). As in adult ovaries, galectin-3 immunoreactivity was prominent in the unilaminar follicles in neonatal ovaries. Galectin-3 was also immunolocalized in the luteal cells in the corpus luteum and granulosa cells of atretic follicles as well as in interstitial macrophages in porcine ovaries. Collectively, these results suggest that galectin-3 is transiently expressed in follicular cells in the unilaminar ovarian follicles (primordial and primary) but not in multilaminar ovarian follicles (primary to tertiary), implying that galectin-3 is embryologically involved in ovum generation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea; Hyundai Animal Hospital, Donghong-ro 48, Seogwipo-city, Jeju 63589, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Dam
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Changnam
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeongtae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Meejung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: shint@jejunu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Taekyun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D009865:Oocytes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3
keywords: Folliculogenesis; Galectin-3; Ovary; Pig