Study on the Ovary, Oviduct and Uterus of the Ewe

Hadek, Robert (1955) Study on the Ovary, Oviduct and Uterus of the Ewe. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

1. The comparative weighing of sheep ovaries during an-oestrus has shown that older animals have correspondingly heavier ovaries. 2. The median weight of both ovaries were equal in all ages compared (1 - 4 yr.). 3. The uteri and the ovaries have shown cyclical alteration of weight which followed that of the oestrus cycle. Both were heaviest during di-oestrus and lightest during pro-oestrus. 4. The presence of a basement membrane has been established under the germinal epithelium. 5. Developing follicles were most numerous during pro-oestrus and oestrus, while there was a large number of atretic follicles present during met-oestrus and di-oestrus. 6. During an-oestrus oogenesis, follicular development and follicular atresia were either at a standstill or were at a very low level since the ovary created the impression of complete rest. 7. There was an indication that oogenesis, follicular development and follicular atrophy in the sheep, like that of the goat, are not continuous but periodically recurring processes associated with the oestrus cycle. 8. The presence of multinuclear ova and polyovular follicles has been established in the sheep ovary and were only found during pro-oestrus and oestrus. 9. The thecal cone like that of the goat was found to exhibit changes in the sheep which were similar to that of the former. 10. The follicular growth of the oocyte was found to resemble that of other animals. The two phases of growth (e. g. quick and slow) were graphically reproduced as one continuous line. The formula for the regression line was Y = 85.417 + 20.1933 (loge F-5.8608) 11. No blood vessel was found to penetrate the glassy membrane. 12. Additional cavities which appeared in the cumulus oophorus before follicular rupture were filled with liquor folliculi. 13. The corpus luteum in non-pregnant animals reached its maximum development approximately on the 10th day after ovulation 14. The two cycle old corpus luteum - corpus albicans - contained only some connective tissue and a group of macrophages. 15. Of the histochemical reaction in the ovary of the sheep the presence of (i) fat has been established in the theca interna and the lutein cells of the corpus luteum, (ii) cytoplasmic alkaline phosphatase (glycero) was present in the theca interna, to a lesser extent in the theca externa and in those cells which were of theca interna origin, (iii) in the granulosa cells and liquor folliculi the presence of hyaluronic acid was demonstrated 16. In the oviduct mucosa the secretory and ciliated cells were found to be regular features whereas the rod and round cells appeared only periodically. 17. During the end of met-oestrus and di-oestrus a degeneration has taken place in the secretory cells, their nuclei became extruded and the cells became transformed into rod cells. 18. With histochemical staining secretory granules were seen in the secretory cells during pro-oestrus, they increased in amount and appeared in the lumen during oestrus and decreased during met-oestrus. From the histochemical reactions of the granules their structure was concluded to be acid mucopolysaccharide. 19. In the uterus of the sheep with histochemical stainings cytoplasmic alkaline phosphatase (glycero) sudanophil fat and a very low amount of mucoprotein was found in the epithelial and glandular cells. The strength of the reaction followed the sexual cycle, e.g. it was completely absent during pro-, an- and late di-oestrus, was very weak during oestrus, improved during met-oestrus and was strongest during the end of met-oestrus and early di-oestrus. 20. In the glandular cells in addition to the previous substances inorganic iron was present which showed an alteration in amount comparable to that of the mucoprotein. 21. The "round pigment cells" (Grant, 1933) in the uterine mucosa have been identified as wandering macrophages which seem to start from the uterine muscularis and show an increasing content of tissue debris as they approach the uterine epithelium. 22. Changes in the caruncular blood vessels were observed during the oestrus cycle. The number of blood capillaries showed an increase during oestrus, reached its maximum during met- and early di-oestrus and was at its lowest during late di-oestrus, an-oestrus and pro-oestrus.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Animal sciences, Histology
• Date of Award: 1955
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1955-79141
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 31 Mar 2020 09:09
• Last Modified: 31 Mar 2020 09:09
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/79141