A Study on the Fine Structural Changes of Porcine Ovarian Follicles during Atresia

돼지 난소내 여포의 폐쇄에 따른 미세구조의 변화에 관한 연구

This experiment has been done in order to study the correlation between the ultrastructure changes and the atresia phenomenon of the follicles in porcine ovary. The ovaries were assorted according to the presence or absence of corpus luteum. Thereafter, the follicles were classified into normal, pyknotic, necrotic and cystic groups by atretic characteristics on the histological observation, and then their ultrastructures were examined with an electron microscope. The results were as followings. 1. In normal group, granulosa cells represented the ultrastructural characteristics of protein-synthesizing cells. Since the initiation of atresia, the line structure of granulosa cells showed many of the characteristic features of steroid-secreting cells, followed by gradual pyknosis. 2. In necrotic group of the ovary without corpus luteum, the theca interns became hypertrophic and displayed the ultrastructural features of active steroidsecreting cells. But this phenomenon was not seen in the follicles of the ovary with corpus luteum. 3. Degenerative changes of cumulus cells were similar to those of granulosa cells, and the degenerating oocytes showed the degeneration of cellular organelles, cytoplasmic vacuolization and disappearance of microvilli on the surface. The degeneration of granulosa cells tended to procede that of oocytecumulus complex in the follicles of the ovary having no corpus luteum, but this tendency was reversed in the case of presence of corpus luteum. In conclusion, it may be unable to identi(y the initiation of follicular atresia