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Neuroendocrine cells are present in the domestic fowl ovary
Author(s) -
Hofmann Pablo G.,
Báez Saldaña Armida,
Fortoul Van Der Goes Teresa,
González del Pliego Margarita,
Gutiérrez Ospina Gabriel
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1469-7580
pISSN - 0021-8782
DOI - 10.1111/joa.12002
Subject(s) - chromogranin a , synaptophysin , biology , fowl , ovary , neurofilament , neuron , enteroendocrine cell , medulla , endocrinology , medicine , adrenal medulla , ovarian cortex , chromophobe cell , dopamine , pathology , catecholamine , immunohistochemistry , neuroscience , endocrine system , hormone , immunology , clear cell , paleontology , ovarian tissue
Neuroendocrine cells are present in virtually all organs of the vertebrate body; however, it is yet uncertain whether they exist in the ovaries. Previous reports of ovarian neurons and neuron‐like cells in mammals and birds might have resulted from misidentification. The aim of the present work was to determine the identity of neuron‐like cells in immature ovaries of the domestic fowl. Cells immunoreactive to neurofilaments, synaptophysin, and chromogranin‐A, with small, dense‐core secretory granules, were consistently observed throughout the sub‐cortical ovarian medulla and cortical interfollicular stroma. These cells also displayed immunoreactivity for tyrosine, tryptophan and dopamine β‐hydroxylases, as well as to aromatic L‐ DOPA decarboxylase, implying their ability to synthesize both catecholamines and indolamines. Our results support the argument that the ovarian cells previously reported as neuron‐like in birds, are neuroendocrine cells.