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Immunohistochemical Expression of Nitric Oxide Synthase Enzymes (i NOS , e NOS , n NOS ) in the Estrual and Luteal Phases of the Sexual Cycle in the Cow Oviduct
Author(s) -
Özen A.,
Ergün E.,
Öztaş E.,
Ergün L.,
Özcan Z.,
Alabay B.,
Bayraktaroğlu A. G.,
Kürüm A.,
Erdoğan E.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
anatomia, histologia, embryologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.34
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1439-0264
pISSN - 0340-2096
DOI - 10.1111/ahe.12027
Subject(s) - luteal phase , oviduct , enos , endocrinology , medicine , nitric oxide synthase , lamina propria , biology , ampulla , endothelial nos , chemistry , epithelium , nitric oxide , follicular phase , genetics
Summary This study was aimed to determine staining intensity, cellular localization and distribution of the nitric oxide synthase ( NOS ) enzymes during the sexual cycle in the cow oviduct. Oviduct samples belonging to 20 cows, 10 of which were in the estrual phase and 10 in the luteal phase of the sexual cycle, were examined by an immunohistochemical procedure to determine the presence of the NOS enzymes. In the epithelial cells of the isthmus, endothelial NOS (e NOS ) expression showed a strong positive reaction during the estrual phase and a weak positive reaction during the luteal phase in the endothelium and smooth muscle of the blood vessels found in the serosa and lamina propria. e NOS expression was not observed in the epithelium of either the ampulla or the fimbria in the two particular phases of the sexual cycle. The e NOS reactions observed in the blood vessel wall in these regions were stronger during the estrual phase. e NOS activity was not observed in the tunica muscularis in any of the regions of the oviduct. During the estrual phase, it was observed that inducible NOS expression showed a stronger positive reaction in the epithelium and muscle layer of the isthmus and ampulla and in the epithelium of the fimbria, compared to the luteal phase. Neuronal NOS immunoreactivity was observed in the epithelial cells of all oviduct regions and in the muscle layer of the isthmus and ampulla and did not display any significant difference between the estrual and luteal phases.