Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2021, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (2): 389-398.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2021.02.011

• ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND REPRODUCTION • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Observation of Ovary Histology and Ultrastructure of Follicles in Tibetan Sheep

GUO Yajun, LIU Miaomiao, FU Dehai, RAN Xingrong, WANG Xinrong*   

  1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
  • Received:2020-07-04 Online:2021-02-23 Published:2021-02-24

Abstract: The study aimed to observe the histological features of Tibetan sheep's follicles and corpus luteum and follicle ultrastructure, and explore the relationship between them and their physiological functions. The tissue structure characteristics of the ovarian follicles and corpus luteum of Tibetan sheep and the ultramicroscopic morphology of the follicles were examined and analyzed using gross dissection, traditional tissue sectioning, H.E staining and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the width and thickness of the ovaries between Tibetan sheep's luteal phase and follicular phase were significantly different (P<0.05), but there were no significant difference in weight and length (P>0.05). Most of the ovarian follicles shrunk through granular cells atresia and fibrosis; theca corpus luteum cells (the diameter 22 μm) and granular corpus luteum cells (the diameter 50 μm) in the corpus luteum had apparent structural characteristics and clear boundaries, there was abundant capillaries in corpus luteum; through observing the follicle's ultrastructure, it was found that as the follicle developing, its form changed from an ellipse to a polygon, the number increased and the follicle was surrounded by membranous cells, the amount and types of organelles also increased; the organelles were closely connected, and the cytoplasm contained secreted cortical granules. The results showed that the histological characteristics of follicular system and corpus luteum of Tibetan sheep were similar to those of other sheep and goat breeds, with the development of follicles, the proliferation of blood vessels was faster, the changes of follicular structure and the densification of organelles increased, and the follicles could be shrunk at different stages; the structure of the two luteal cells was more complete and characterized by capillary breeding, which may be an important basic guarantee for Tibetan sheep to play ovarian function under high altitude hypoxia.

Key words: ovarian follicle, corpus luteum, atresia follicle, follicle ultrastructure

CLC Number: