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Distribution of immunoreactive von Willebrand factor in the microvascular network of bovine cystic follicles
Author(s) -
ISOBE Naoki,
YOSHIMURA Yukinori,
NAKAO Toshihiko
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
animal science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.606
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1740-0929
pISSN - 1344-3941
DOI - 10.1046/j.1344-3941.2002.00018.x
Subject(s) - von willebrand factor , theca , theca interna , follicular phase , medicine , endocrinology , follicle , basal (medicine) , ovarian follicle , chemistry , follicular fluid , biology , platelet , microbiology and biotechnology , oocyte , embryo , insulin
The present study was undertaken to examine whether the von Willebrand factor (vWF) expression in the follicular microvasculature in the cystic follicles differs from that in the atretic follicles. Paraffin sections of healthy, atretic and cystic follicles were immunostained with rabbit monoclonal antibody to vWF. The vWF‐positive cells were counted in four different regions of a follicle from the apical to the basal side. In all types of follicles, immunoreactions for vWF were observed in the endothelial cells of capillaries as well as veins and arteries in the theca interna and externa. In the theca interna, vWF‐positive areas were significantly lower in the Type A and B cystic follicles compared to advanced and late atretic follicles. In the theca externa, the vWF‐positive blood vessels and vWF‐positive area were significantly smaller in all types of cystic follicles than in the healthy or atretic follicles. From these results, it is suggested that in the cystic follicles the induction of vWF in the follicular microvasculature system is reduced, which may suppress the degeneration of vascular system. Continuation of stability in vasculature may be one of the factors that delays the tissue regression in the cystic follicles, and also contributes to the accumulation of follicular fluid that originates from the serum.