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An ultrastructural analysis of secretory cells and secretion in the mouse oviduct during sexual maturation. The study describes the occurrence and differentiation of secretory cells, the appearance of secretory granules, and the morphological manifestation of secretion. The research was conducted on animals aged from newborn to adults, and the results showed that secretory cells and granules were present in the oviducts of adult animals, with an increased ratio of secretory cells and production of secretory products around and after ovulation.
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SCRIPTA MEDICA (BRNO) – 76 (4): 203–214, September 2003
Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno
A b s t r a c t
The structure of secretory cells and granules has been described in the mouse Fallopian tube during sexual maturation and oestrous cycle. The oviducts of newborn mice were lined with a simple columnar epithelium in which only tall indifferent cells of uniform appearance were present. In some of these cells, marks of ciliogenesis were observed. The occurrence of secretory cells showing proteosynthetic activity and formation of secretory granules was registered in the oviducts of mouse females at the age of 14 days after birth for the first time. Secretory granules were formed but not released from the cells during sexual maturation, which takes the first 6 to 7 postnatal weeks. Secretory granules and vesicles of several types were found in secretory cells in the oviducts of adult animals. The granules were released into the lumen by way of apocrine secretion. The morphological signs of eccrine secretion of the content of vesicles were occasionally observed. The ratio of secretory cells in the oviduct epithelium and the production of secretory products were increased around and after ovulation in cycling animals. The processes of secretion in the oviduct epithelium are dependent on the level of ovarian hormones. The influence of these hormones was studied in animals treated with exogenous hormones during their sexual maturation.
K e y w o r d s
Oviduct, Secretion, Oestradiol, Progesterone, Mouse
The oviducts of laboratory mice (C 57 BL/10 x CBA (F1)) were used as the model in the present study. The animals were divided into groups of sexually mature and immature females. The phases of the oestrous cycle (prooestrus, oestrus, metoestrus, and dioestrus) were determined on the basis of the evaluation of vaginal smears, stained with Ehrlich’s hematoxylin and eosin, and of the appearance of vaginal introitus in accordance with the experience of Champlin et al. (1973) in adult mice. Sexual maturation from birth to the age of 49 days was followed in 7-day intervals; thus the subgroups of young animals were marked according to age in days: 0 (newborn), 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49. From these subgroups, females aged 14, 21, and 28 days were chosen for evaluation of the hormonal influence on the secretory activity of the tubal epithelium. An overview of the groups and numbers of evaluated animals is shown in Table 1. These mice were treated with exogenous steroid hormones of the ovary. Microcrystalline water suspensions of steroids, Agofolin-Depot /Biotika/ (estradioli benzoas 10 mg/ ml) and Agolutin-Depot /Biotika/ (progesteronum 50 mg/2 ml), were administered subcutaneously in the suprascapular region of the experimental animals. Aqua pro injectione /Biotika/ served as a vehicle for the dilution of both hormones and was used for the control animals. The hormone formulas were applied in one daily dose for a period of 4 days. The protocol of the treatment is shown in Table 2. The oviducts were taken in toto after decapitation of animals and processed for electron microscopy (double fixation in 300 mmol/l glutaraldehyde and 80 mmol/l osmium tetroxide in 100 mmol/l cacodylate buffer; embedding into Durcupan ACM (Fluka) after dehydration; cutting on Ultratome III ultramicrotome, and staining with uranyl acetate and lead citrate according to Reynolds (1963). The ultrathin sections were viewed and photographed by a transmission electron microscope Tesla BS 500 or Morgagni 286 D (FEI) (90 kV).
Table 1
An overview of groups and numbers of evaluated animals
Adult animals Sexually immature animals
Oestrus cycle untreated control oestradiol +
oestradiol
phase age progesterone
prooestrus 5 0 (at birth) 4
oestrus 5 7 days 6
metoestrus 5 14 days 5 14 days 3 14 days 5 14 days 5
dioestrus 5 21 days 5 21 days 3 21 days 5 21 days 5
28 days 5 28 days 3 28 days 5 28 days 5
35 days 6
42 days 5
49 days 4
Fig. 1 Isthmus; oestrus: The most frequent type of granules containing finely granular material of high electron density. (Barr = 1 μm)
Fig. 2 Isthmus, prooestrus: Lipid-like granules with electron-dense spot surrounded by a homogenous mass of middle electron density. (Barr = 1 μm)
Fig. 3 Preampulla; age 28 days, oestradiol: Large and light granules filled with coarsely granulated material. (Barr = 1 μm)
Fig. 4 Preampulla; age 28 days, oestradiol + progesterone: Light vesicles appearing as "empty", in constricted protrusion of cell apex. (Barr = 1 μm)