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Localization of calretinin in the rat ovary and in relation to nerve cell bodies in dorsal root and paravertebral ganglia projecting to the ovary
Author(s) -
Burden Hubert W.,
Zary Joan T.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.10226
Subject(s) - calretinin , ovary , anatomy , biology , dorsal root ganglion , population , dorsum , immunohistochemistry , endocrinology , medicine , environmental health , immunology
Retrograde tracing with True Blue was combined with immunocytochemistry to determine the source of any calretinin‐immunoreactive (CR‐ir) nerves projecting to the rat ovary. In the ovary, a strong signal for calretinin immunoreactivity was localized in interstitial gland cells; however, no intraovarian CR‐ir nerves could be demonstrated. When the superior ovarian nerve was isolated, cut, and True Blue applied to the proximal end, the fluorescent dye was retrogradely transported to a population of cells located in T‐12, T‐13, and L‐1 dorsal root and paravertebral ganglia. There was virtually no dual labeling of cells in these ganglia with calretinin (< 0.009% dual labeling in dorsal root and <0.014% in paravertebral ganglia). However, greater than two‐thirds of the True Blue‐labeled cells were immediately adjacent to CR‐ir cells in dorsal root ganglia. This arrangement is suggestive of a paracrine mechanism between CR‐ir cells and cells projecting to the ovary. In paravertebral ganglia, 63% of cells projecting to the ovary were surrounded completely or partially by beaded CR‐ir nerve fibers. The source of these fibers (sensory or preganglionic sympathetic) is unknown but hypothesized to be preganglionic. Collectively, these observations suggest a participatory role for calretinin in ovarian function, either directly via effects on the interstitial gland or indirectly by influencing neurons projecting to the ovary. Microsc. Res. Tech. 59:490–494, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.