Abstract
BackgroundIntraovarian distribution and density of nerve fibres immunoreactive (IR) to protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) and containing dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DβH), neuropeptide Y (NPY), somatostatin (SOM), galanin (GAL) were determined.MethodsFrom day 4 of the first oestrous cycle to day 20 of the second studied cycle, experimental gilts (n = 3) were injected with testosterone (T), while control gilts (n = 3) received corn oil.ResultsAfter T administration the numbers of fibres IR to PGP 9.5 and fibres IR to DβH, NPY and SOM were decreased. Fewer PGP 9.5- and DβH-IR terminals were observed within the ground plexus and around arteries and medullar veins, and medium tertiary follicles, and DβH-IR terminals in the vicinity of small tertiary follicles. T decreased the density of NPY-IR fibres in the medullar part of the ground plexus, and SOM-IR in the cortical part of the ground plexus.ConclusionsThe obtained data show that long-term T treatment of gilts decreases the total number of intraovarian fibres, including sympathetic ones. These results suggest that elevated T levels that occur during pathological states may affect the innervation pattern of ovaries, and their function(s).
Highlights
Intraovarian distribution and density of nerve fibres immunoreactive (IR) to protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) and containing dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DβH), neuropeptide Y (NPY), somatostatin (SOM), galanin (GAL) were determined
Macroscopic evaluation of the ovaries Compared to the controls, treatment with T caused in the ovaries a reduction in the number of small (1–3 mm in diameter; 10.2 ± 0.33 vs. 20 ± 0.57, P < 0.001; respectively) and medium (4–6 mm in diameter; 3.16 ± 0.33 vs. 5.66 ± 0.6, P < 0.05; respectively) follicles, as well as a lack of large follicles (7–10 mm in diameter; 0 ± 0 vs. 4.4 ± 0.16, respectively)
Compared to the control group (Fig. 1a, c, e, g), the T treatment led to a drop in the number of PGP 9.5-IR intraovarian nerve fibres in the cortical (P < 0.001, Fig. 1b) and medullar (P < 0.001, Fig. 1f ) parts of the Ovarian DβH, NPY, SOM, GAL-IR nerve fibres as a percentage of PGP 9.5-IR nerve fibres Long-term T administration led to a decrease (P < 0.01) in the number of ovarian DβH-IR nerve fibres compared with that in the control group (46.6 % vs 55.3 %, respectively)
Summary
Intraovarian distribution and density of nerve fibres immunoreactive (IR) to protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) and containing dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DβH), neuropeptide Y (NPY), somatostatin (SOM), galanin (GAL) were determined. Hyperandrogenism is one of the most common and disturbing endocrine disorder of reproductive-aged women and can result from many pathological states. The ovary is an important source for androgen excess in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) [1, 2] and androgensecreting tumours [3]. Augmentation in the peripheral blood androgen levels is found in patients suffering from adrenal hyperplasia [4] and androgen-secreting tumours [5, 6]. Blood androgen levels are elevated in pigs with uterine inflammation [7] and polycystic ovaries [8], and in dogs with adrenal dysfunction [9]. The pig’s ovary receives its nerve supply from sympathetic, parasympathetic and sensory components of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The sympathetic ovarian innervation derives from the caudal mesenteric ganglion (CaMG), sympathetic chain ganglia (SChGs; Th10-L5 and S1), ovarian and aorticorenal ganglia, as well as from
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