Light Microscope Immunocytochemical Studies Of The Distribution Of Caspase-9 In The Reproductive Organs Of Meat Sheep

Reproductive organs of female mammal are known to undergo dynamic cyclic changes during the oestrus cycle.Apoptosis plays an important role in this change.In the present study,immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of Caspase-9 in major reproductive organs(ovaries,oviduct and uterus) of meet sheep.The purpose of this study was to investigate the apoptosis mechanism of cyclic change of ewe reproductive organs and provide theory for explaining the influence of apoptosis to reproduction of ewes.The finding of Caspase-9 immunolocalisation indicated that:Expression of Caspase-9 in reproductive organs of meet sheep in a regular pattern,and submitted location-and cycle-dependence.(1) The majority of positive cells in the the ovary,were observed in Primordial follicles(PrF),Primary follicles(PF) and second follicles.Caspase-9 was positive in the Stratum granulosum(SG) of the tertiary follicle and less positive in the theca folliculi(TF). In the mature follicle, Caspase-9 was positive in the Stratum granulosum. Distribution of Caspase-9 in the Cortex(C) and Medulla(M) was in Superficial epithelium(SE), Tunica albuginea(TA), most of Primordial follicles(PrF),Primary follicles(PF),Stratum granulosum(SG) of Atretic follicle(AF).In the later luteal phase, Caspase-9 was positive in the cytoplasm of Granular lutein cells(GLC) but negative in theca lutein cells(TLC);In the initial luteal phase, Caspase-9 was negative in Granular lutein cells and theca lutein cells .(2) During the luteal phase, Caspase-9 was positive in shallow glands(SG) of the uterus and endothelial cells of enlarged gland(EG) but negative in the Endometrium(E) of Carncle,the uterine Myometrium(M) and Deep gland(DG).During the follicular phase,no obvious positive expression was found.And the positive granule was also found in the lymphatic nodule(LN) of the cercix uteri.(3) During the luteal phase,Caspase-9 was positive in the ciliated cell and secretory cell of the mucous epithelium(EP) in ampulla tubae uterinae ,and the epithelium of serous gland(SG) of the tubal isthmus .But during the follicular phase,no obvious positive cells were found.All results mentioned above indicated that Caspase-9 participated in the regulation of apoptosis of the Major Reproductive Organs of Meat sheep.It is important for the stability of reproductive organs in Meat sheep.