Docsity
Log inSign up
Docsity
Prepare for your exams
Prepare for your exams

Study with the several resources on Docsity

Earn points to download
Earn points to download

Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan

Guidelines and tips
Guidelines and tips
Sell on Docsity
Sell on Docsity
Log inSign up

Prepare for your exams

Study with the several resources on Docsity

Find documents

Prepare for your exams with the study notes shared by other students like you on Docsity

Search Store documents

The best documents sold by students who completed their studies

Search through all study resources
Docsity AINEW

Summarize your documents, ask them questions, convert them into quizzes and concept maps

Explore questions

Clear up your doubts by reading the answers to questions asked by your fellow students

Earn points to download

Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan

Share documents
download point icon20 Points

For each uploaded document

Answer questions
download point icon5 Points

For each given answer (max 1 per day)

All the ways to get free points
Get points immediately

Choose a premium plan with all the points you need

Study Opportunities

Choose your next study program

Get in touch with the best universities in the world. Search through thousands of universities and official partners

Community

Ask the community

Ask the community for help and clear up your study doubts

University Rankings

Discover the best universities in your country according to Docsity users

Free resources

Our save-the-student-ebooks!

Download our free guides on studying techniques, anxiety management strategies, and thesis advice from Docsity tutors

From our blog

Exams and Study
Go to the blog

Mouse Oviduct Secretory Cells & Secretion: Analysis of Sexual Maturation, Lecture notes of Histology

University of the Sciences in PhiladelphiaHistology

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.

What you will learn

  • What is the structure of secretory cells and granules in the mouse oviduct during sexual maturation?
  • What is involved in fluid production in the mouse oviduct?
  • When do secretory cells first appear in the mouse oviduct?
  • What types of secretory cells are distinguished during the period of sexual maturation?

Typology: Lecture notes

2021/2022

Uploaded on 09/27/2022

astarloa
astarloa 🇺🇸

4.2

(12)

299 documents

1 / 12

Toggle sidebar

This page cannot be seen from the preview

Don't miss anything!

bg1
SCRIPTA MEDICA(BRNO) – 76 (4): 203–214, September 2003
SECRETORY CELLS AND MORPHOLOGICAL
MANIFESTATION OF SECRETION IN THE MOUSE
OVIDUCT
LAUSCHOVÁ I.
Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno
Abstract
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.
Key words
Oviduct, Secretion, Oestradiol, Progesterone, Mouse
INTRODUCTION
The mammalian oviduct and tubal fluid represent together an optimal
microenvironment and an essential medium for processes associated with
fertilisation and early embryonic development. The special composition of
oviductal fluid supports viability of the gametes, and nutrition of the cleaving
zygote and early blastocyst formation. Selective transudation from the blood
capillaries and an active proteosynthesis in the secretory cells of the oviduct
epithelium are involved in fluid production (8). Participation of components of
peritoneal and follicular fluids (at the time of ovulation) and of factors produced
by the gametes, the cells of cumulus oophorus, and by the embryo (after
ovulation) in tubal fluid composition was mentioned by Hunter 1988. The quality
and quantity of this fluid is influenced by circulating steroid hormones of the
ovary (15, 20, 31, 33, 34).
203
pf3
pf4
pf5
pf8
pf9
pfa

Partial preview of the text

Download Mouse Oviduct Secretory Cells & Secretion: Analysis of Sexual Maturation and more Lecture notes Histology in PDF only on Docsity!

SCRIPTA MEDICA (BRNO) – 76 (4): 203–214, September 2003

SECRETORY CELLS AND MORPHOLOGICAL

MANIFESTATION OF SECRETION IN THE MOUSE

OVIDUCT

LAUSCHOVÁ I.

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

INTRODUCTION

The mammalian oviduct and tubal fluid represent together an optimal

microenvironment and an essential medium for processes associated with

fertilisation and early embryonic development. The special composition of

oviductal fluid supports viability of the gametes, and nutrition of the cleaving

zygote and early blastocyst formation. Selective transudation from the blood

capillaries and an active proteosynthesis in the secretory cells of the oviduct

epithelium are involved in fluid production ( 8 ). Participation of components of

peritoneal and follicular fluids (at the time of ovulation) and of factors produced

by the gametes, the cells of cumulus oophorus, and by the embryo (after

ovulation) in tubal fluid composition was mentioned by Hunter 1988. The quality

and quantity of this fluid is influenced by circulating steroid hormones of the

ovary ( 15, 20, 31, 33, 34 ).

The ultrastructure of secretory cells, the appearance of their secretory granules, the

luminal content, and the morphological manifestation of secretion have been studied.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

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

sometimes forming a large Golgi field. The granular endoplasmic reticulum was

usually dilated and formed a dense network of cisternae in the supranuclear parts

of the cytoplasm. Concentric bodies were also found in some of these cells. The

inactive mature cells were fully differentiated and showed apical protrusions of

the cytoplasm filled with numerous mature secretory granules. Only a small Golgi

apparatus near the nucleus and several short, narrow cisternae of the endoplasmic

reticulum were present in the cytoplasm. Concentric bodies were not observed in

inactive cells.

The occurrence of mature secretory cells (both active and inactive) increased

during sexual maturation so that they prevailed, while immature cells were only

occasionally found in the oviductal epithelium of animals aged 35 and more days.

The same results were observed in the oviducts of adult mouse females.

The administration of exogenous ovarian steroids, especially of oestradiol,

showed an acceleration of differentiation and maturation of the secretory cells.

The ultrastructural characteristics of the tubal epithelium of young hormone-

treated mice (aged 14, 21, and 28 days) were the same as in the oviducts of adult

females.

S ECRETORY GRANULES

The appearance of secretory granules was also studied. The most frequent type

of granules occurring in many cells contained finely granular material of high

electron density ( Fig. 1 ). Their diameter was maximally 0.5 μm. The other types

of granules or vesicles were occasionally observed. The small, lipid-like granules

measured 0.2–0.4 μm in diameter. The dark, electron dense centre of such

a granule was surrounded by a homogenous mass of middle electron density

( Fig. 2 ). The large and very light granules of a diameter of up to 0.8 μm were

filled with coarsely granulated material ( Fig. 3 ). Large, electron-lucent vesicles

and vacuoles of dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum measured 1.0 to 1.5 μm in

diameter and contained fine, granular material. Small vesicles ( Fig. 4 ), which

appeared to be ”empty” and had 0.5 μm in diameter, were usually observed in

close vicinity of plasma membrane. Both large and small vesicles were

surrounded by a distinct biological membrane. Except for the above-mentioned

types of granules and vesicles with a secretory product, lamellar structures and

lipid droplets rarely occurred in some secretory cells ( Figs. 7, 8 ) and also in the

oviduct lumen. Elimination of lamellar particles, but not of lipid droplets, by

exocytosis was monitored ( Fig. 8 ).

S ECRETION

No marks of secretion from the cytoplasm of mature secretory cells were

found in the epithelium of sexually immature mouse females during the whole

period of their physiological sexual maturation. The secretory product was stored

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)

in protruding cell apexes, but was not released into the lumen of the oviduct. In

the oviducts of all pubertal animals treated with oestradiol together with

progesterone, signs of constriction and separation of apical cytoplasmic

protrusions containing secretory granules were manifested. Cytoplasmic

fragments of secretory cells were regularly present in the tubal lumen.

Similar morphological signs of releasing the secretory material were

monitored in the epithelium of adult females after ovulation in metoestrus (i.e. at

the time of progesterone production by the corpus luteum in the ovary). These

signs corresponded to apocrine secretion. Cumulation of granules or vesicles in

the apical cytoplasmic protrusions and their strangulation were observed on the

luminal surface of the epithelium ( Fig. 5 ). Free cell fragments containing granules

and/or vesicles were found in the lumen of the oviduct. Marks similar to eccrine

secretion, but not direct releasing of the product, were monitored in some

secretory cells with vesicles ( Fig. 6 ).

DISCUSSION

The mammalian oviduct is not only a conducting tube for the passage of

gametes and embryos, but it is also a sophisticated secretory organ that maintains

and modulates the dynamic fluid-filled environment, which is necessary for

fertilisation and early embryonic development ( 19 ).

The oviductal fluid is transparent, colourless, and lightly alkaline (pH 7.7–8.

depends on concentration of bicarbonate). Specific gravity is less than 1.0 and

osmolality is 310 mOsm ( 14 ). From the point of view of chemical composition,

tubal fluid contains ions, amino acids and proteins, growth factors, enzymes and

hormones ( 2, 8, 9, 10 ), the source of energy – lactate, pyruvate and glucose ( 30 ),

the gamete- and embryo-protective and immunosuppressive components – taurine

and hypotaurine (2, 11, 12, 26 ). The tubal epithelium also produces a lubricating

substance which facilitates the passage of the oocyte and blastocyst in the narrow

isthmus ( 5 ). Most of the above-mentioned components of tubal fluid originate

from blood plasma and pass into the lumen via transudation from the blood

vessels. Participation of secretory cells in the production of special proteins and

amino acids was studied and described by some authors ( 21,9,30 ). The best-

known proteins are oestrogen-dependent oviduct-specific glycoproteins ( 2, 33, 34 ),

placental protein PP14 ( 26 ), or avidin in birds.

Secretory cells are tall columnar cells containing secretory granules in their

cytoplasm. The marks of proteosynthetic activity are represented by numerous,

well-developed profiles of the Golgi apparatus and granular endoplasmic

reticulum. This simple morphological characteristic was given by many authors

mentioned above in the text. The first secretory cells appeared in the mouse

oviduct epithelium of the ampulla and the isthmus on day 14 after birth ( 17 ). Three

types of secretory cells, named as 1/ immature, 2/ active mature, and 3/ inactive

mature cells, were described during the period of sexual maturation. Concentric

bodies were observed in some of the immature and active mature cells. The same

bodies were observed by some authors in different cell types ( 3, 23, 25, 27, 28, 29, 32 ).

Most of these authors considered the bodies as a specialised form of smooth

endoplasmic reticulum. Their function is not clear and the hypotheses about it are

not unified. Participation in steroidogenesis and/or glycogenogenesis is assumed

by some of the authors. The occurrence of immature and mature secretory cells

(both active and inactive) changed during sexual maturation and was different in

adult mouse females. Steroid hormone dependence was observed after hormonal

treatment in groups of young animals ( 18 ).

The secretory products were kept in granules or vesicles of several types. The

most frequent granules with finely granular material and high electron density

were also described in different species by many authors ( 6, 16, 30, 31 ). The other

types of granules were occasionally found in the mouse oviduct epithelium.

Small, lipid-like granules of moderate density contained an electron-dense spot

and were mentioned in golden hamster by Abe and Oikawa (1989). Large and

very light granules with coarsely granulated material occurred in several secretory

cells. Very large, electron-lucent vesicles or vacuoles containing fine, granular

material occurred in the dilated cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and

were observed in primates ( 16, 22 ) and in cow ( 7 ). Small, seemingly ”empty”

vesicles were rarely found in the mouse oviduct. They were not mentioned by any

of the authors whose works we have read.

Lamellar structures were found in some secretory cells and in the oviduct

lumen. Lamellar particles were similar to myelin figures composed of

phospholipid membranes and were not identical or similar to the lamellar

secretory granules described in primates by Odor et al. (1983) or in cow by Uhrín

(1992) and Eriksen et al. (1994). These particles were released by exocytosis into

the oviductal lumen. Subnuclear aggregates of lipid droplets were a typical

cytoplasmic compartment of some non-ciliated cells in the isthmus and free lipid

droplets were found in the lumen of the oviduct. Their release via the secretory

pathway was never seen in the mouse oviduct. Neutral lipids and phospholipids

of tubal epithelium origin were detected by Henault and Killian ( 1993) in the

bovine oviductal lumen. The importance of lamellar particles and lipid droplets

for oviduct fluid composition is not clear.

In the mouse oviduct we have also studied how the secretory product is

released from the cells into the lumen. Apical protrusions of secretory cells

cumulating secretory granules or vesicles and their constriction and detaching

from the cell surfaces were the most frequent signs of this process. In the lumen

of the tube, free cell fragments of an ultrastructure identical to the cell protrusions

were observed. In the view of these findings, the apocrine secretion seems to be

the main way by which secretions are released from the cells. According to the

REFERENCES

  1. Abe H, Oikawa T. Differentiation of the golden hamster oviduct epithelial cells during postnatal development: An electron microscopic study. J Exp Zool 1989; 252: 43–52.
  2. Boatman DE. Responses of gametes to the oviductal environment. Hum Reprod (Natl Suppl JBFS 2) 1997; 12:133–149.
  3. Carr I, Carr J. Membranous whorls in the testicular interstitial cells. Anat Rec 1962; 144: 143–147.
  4. Champlin AK, Dorr DL, Gattes AH. Determining the stage of the estrous cycle in the mouse by the appearance of the vagina. Biol Reprod 1973; 8: 491–494.
  5. Chatkoff ML. A biophysical model of the mechanisms regulating ovum transport in rates. In: Ovum transport and fertility regulation (WHO symposium, San Antonio, Texas, 1975). Harper M J K, Pauerstein C J (eds), Copenhagen, 1975, 27–40.
  6. Cigánková V, Krajniãáková H, Kokardová M, Tomajková E. Morphological changes in the ewe uterine tube (oviduct) epithelium during puerperium. Vet Med (Czech) 1996; 41: 339–346.
  7. Eriksen T, Terkelsen O, Hyttel P, Greve T. Ultrastructural features of secretory cells in the bovine oviduct epithelium. Anat Embryol 1994; 190: 583–590.
  8. Gandolfi F, Modina S, Brevini TAL et al. Oviduct ampullary epithelium contributes a glycoprotein to the zona pellucida, perivetelline space and blastomere membrane of sheep embryos. Eur J Bas Appl Histochem 1991; 33: 383–392.
  9. Gandolfi F, Modina S, Brevini TAL et al. Activin beta A subunit is expressed in bovine oviduct. Mol Reprod Dev 1995; 40: 286–291.
  10. Grippo AA, Way AL, Killian GJ. Effect of bovine ampullary and isthmic oviductal fluid on motility, acrosome reaction and fertility of bull spermatozoa. J Reprod Fertil 1995; 105: 57–64.
  11. Guerin P, Guillaud J, Menezo Y. Hypotaurin in spermatozoa and genital secretions and its production by oviduct epithelial cells in vitro. Human Reprod 1995a; 10: 866–872.
  12. Guerin P, Menezo Y. Hypotaurin and taurin in gamete and embryo environments: De novo synthesis via the cystein sulfinic acid pathway in oviduct cells. Zygote 1995b; 3/4: 333–343.
  13. Henault MA, Killian GJ. Synthesis and secretion of lipids by bovine mucosal explants. J Reprod Fertil 1993; 98: 431–438.
  14. Hunter RHF. The Fallopian Tubes. Springer Berlin, 1988, 1–191.
  15. Jaffe RC, Arias EB. Oday-Bowman M.B., Donnelly K.M., Mavrogianis P.A., Verhage H.G. Regional distribution and hormonal control of estrogen-dependent oviduct-specific glycoprotein messenger ribonucleic acid in the baboon (Papio anubis). Biol Reprod 1996; 55: 421–426.
  16. Jansen RP. Ultrastructure and histochemistry of acid mucus glycoproteins in the estrous mammal oviduct. Microsc Res Tech 1995; 62/1: 24–49.
  17. Lauschová I. Ultrastructural changes in the oviduct epithelium of sexually immature mouse during postnatal development. Scrip Med (Brno) 1996; 69: 251–261.
  18. Lauschová I. Influence of estrogen and progesterone on ultrastructural indices of oviductal epithelium in sexually immature mice. Acta Vet (Brno) 1999; 68: 13–21.
  19. Kapur RP, Johnson LV. Ultrastructural evidence that specialized regions of the murine oviduct contribute a glycoprotein to the extracellular matrix of mouse oocytes. Anat Rec 1988; 221: 720–729.
  20. Malette B, Filion B, St-Jacques S, Kan FW, Bleau G. Hormonal control of the biosynthesis of hamster oviductin. Microsc. Res Tech 1995; 31: 470–477.
  21. Nancarrow CD, Hill JL. Co-culture, oviduct secretion and the function of oviduct-specific glycoproteins. Cell Biol Int 1994; 18: 1105–1114.
  22. Odor DL, Gaddum-Rose P, Rummery RE. Secretory cells of the oviduct of the pig-tailed monkey, Macaca nemestrina, during the menstrual cycle and after estrogen treatment. Am J Anat 1983; 166: 149–172.
  23. Petric P, Collet A. Lamellar bodies in the epithelial bronchiolar cells in the mouse. Z Zellforsch 1970; 103: 232–237.
  24. Reynolds ES. The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electronopaque stain in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol 1963; 17: 208–212.
  25. Salomon J.C. Modification des cellules du parenchyme hépatique du rat sous l’effet de la thioacétamide. J Ultrastruct Res 1962; 7: 293–307.
  26. Saridogan E, Djahabarhch O, Kervancioglu ME et al. Placental protein 14 production by human Fallopian tube epithelial cells in vitro. Human Reprod 1997; 7: 1500–1507.
  27. Sinha AA, Mead RA. Morphological changes in the trophoblast, uterus and corpus luteum during delayed implantation and implantation in the western spotted skunk. Am J Anat 1976; 145: 331–356.
  1. Steiner JW, Miyai K, Phillips MJ. Electron microscopy of membrane-particle arrays in liver cells of ethionine-intoxicated rats. Am J Pathol 1964; 2: 169–213.
  2. Stenger RJ. Concentric lamellar formations in hepatic parenchymal cells of carbon tetrachloride-treated rats. J Ultrastruct Res 1966; 14: 240–253.
  3. Tay JI, Rutherford AJ, Killick SR et al. Human tubal fluid: production, nutrient composition and response to adrenergic agents. Human Reprod 1997; 11: 2451–2456.
  4. Uhrín V. Funkãná morfológia epitelov vajcovodu a maternice kravy [Functional morphology of oviductal and uterine epithelia in the cow]. Slovak Academic Press, Bratislava, 1992, 1–169.
  5. Usa M, Ishimura K, Fujita H et al. Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies on the zona-reticularis cells of the adrenal cortex of normal and 3-methylcholanthrene-treated mice. Histochem 1985; 83: 207–211.
  6. Verhage HG, Mavrogianis PA, Boice ML, Li W, Fazleabas AT. Oviductal epithelium of the baboon: hormonal control and immuno-gold localization of oviduct-specific glycoproteins. Am J Anat 1990; 187: 81–90.
  7. Verhage HG, Mavrogianis PA, Boomsma RA, et al. Immunologic and molecular characterization of an estrogen-dependent glycoprotein in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) oviduct. Biol Reprod 1997; 57: 525–531.