An Immunohistochemical Study of the Distribution of Intermediate Filaments in the Ovary of the Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

Abstract

The immunohistochemical localization of the intermediate filaments desmin, vimentin and smooth muscle actin (SMA) in the ovary of the emu was described in the present study. The cortical region of the ovary contained developing and atretic primordial, pre-vitellogenic and vitellogenic follicles. Vimentin immunostaining was demonstrated in the granulosa cell layer of primordial, pre-vitellogenic and vitellogenic developing and atretic follicles. An interesting finding of the present study was the localization of SMA in fibroblasts located in the theca externa of late vitellogenic follicles. The presence of SMA in these fibroblasts suggests that they possess characteristics of smooth muscle cells.

An Immunohistochemical Study of Ovarian Follicle Histogenesis in the Early Post‐hatch Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

“…The study describes the development of immunoreactivity to vimentin, laminin, desmin and SMA, in relation to follicle histogenesis, in the post‐hatch quail ovary. The morphology of primordial, early and late pre‐vitellogenic follicles, observed in the present study, was similar to that described in the adult Japanese quail (Van Nassauw et al., 1992a; b), ostrich (Madekurozwa and Kimaro, 2006) and emu (Madekurozwa, 2007).…”

“…Several studies have demonstrated the presence of the cytoskeletal proteins, vimentin, desmin and smooth muscle actin (SMA) in the ovaries of birds and mammals (Van Nassauw et al., 1992a,b; Marettova and Maretta, 2002; Madekurozwa and Kimaro, 2006; Madekurozwa, 2007). Studies have shown that the sequences of the intermediate filaments, vimentin and desmin, as well as the microfilament actin, have been conserved during evolution (Nelson and Traub, 1982; Kabsch and Vandekerckhove, 1992; Galkin et al., 2010).…”

Expression of Intermediate Filaments in the Balbiani Body and Ovarian Follicular Wall of the Japanese Quail <b><i>(Coturnix japonica)</i></b>

“…We demonstrate that no CKs could be found in the cytoplasm of granulosa cells at any follicular stage, whereas they were distinctly positive for vimentin, which confirms our previous findings in the quail [Rodler and Sinowatz, 2011]. As for vimentin, marked immunostaining in granulosa cells has previously been demonstrated for several avian species, such as the chicken (Gallus domesticus) [Giles et al, 2006] and the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) [Madekurozwa, 2007] and in several mammals, including humans [Czernobilsky et al, 1985]. As for CKs, in the mouse, CK8, which is regarded as characteristic of epithelial cells, is distinctly expressed in granulosa cells of primordial and transitory follicles, but none of the other traditional epithelial markers, such as E-cadherin, were detected [Mora et al, 2012].…”

Immunolocalization of Intermediate Filaments and Laminin in the Oviduct of the Immature and Mature Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

“…The distribution and immunostaining intensity of the smooth muscle cell markers were similar in immature and mature quails. Desmin and SMA immunoreactivity in the tunica media of birds has previously been demonstrated in ovarian blood vessels of the Japanese quail (Van Nassauw et al, 1992;Madekurozwa, 2012) and emu (Madekurozwa, 2007b), as well as in the oviductal blood vessels of the domestic fowl (Madekurozwa, 2013). Desmin and SMA in the vascular tunica media are involved in the adaptation of blood vessels to alterations in blood flow (Loufrani et al, 2002;Stiebellehner et al, 2003).…”