Ciliogenesis in the Uterine Tube of Control and Superovulated Heifers

Abstract

Ciliogenesis was investigated in the uterine tube epithelium of control and superovulated heifers during day 1 to day 7 of the oestrous cycle. Seventy-two heifers were used, consisting of four control groups and four superovulated groups. All heifers received cloprostenol (PG) to induce oestrus (day 0). Superovulated heifers received 24 mg pFSH at doses of 4.5, 3.5, 2.5 and 1.5 mg given twice daily. Control and superovulated heifers were slaughtered on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 of the oestrous cycle. Samples from the ampulla, preisthmus and isthmus of the uterine tube were collected and processed for light and electron microscopy, following standard procedures. Both centriolar and acentriolar pathways were involved in the development of basal bodies. Formation of basal bodies and protrusion of ciliary shafts mostly occurred during days 1 and 3 of the oestrous cycle. The centriolar pathways, in which procentrioles generate with the aid of preexisting centrioles, played a minor role in the heifer uterine tube. In the acentriolar pathways, fibrous granules were the first structures which appeared in the course of ciliogenesis and they initially occurred in association with free ribosomes. Subsequently, deuterosomes arose in the aggregates of fibrous granules, and then procentrioles containing microtubules originated around deuterosomes or apart from deuterosomes. Newly formed centrioles migrated to the apical cytoplasm, and ciliary shafts extended first at the periphery of the luminal surface of ciliogenic cells. Deuterosomes as well as rootlet formation were considered to be related to the fibrous granules. Quantitative examinations by light microscopy showed that the number of ciliated cells in the ampullar, preisthmic and isthmic epithelium of the superovulated heifers was significantly higher than in the control heifers during day 1 and day 3 of the oestrous cycle.

Morphometric and Ultrastructural Changes in Ciliated Cells of the Oviductal Epithelium in Prolific Chinese Meishan and Large White Pigs during the Oestrous Cycle

“…1974; Verhage et al. 1979; Abughrien and Dore 2000). Ciliogenesis in the follicular phase occurs under the influence of estrogen, while the appearance of progesterone at midcycle suppresses ciliogenesis and leads to deciliation.…”

“…Many studies have demonstrated that cytodifferentiation of epithelial cells of the oviduct is closely related to the effects of ovarian steroid hormones (Brenner et al 1974;Verhage and Brenner 1975;Odor et al 1980;Abe and Oikawa 1993a). In addition, it has been suggested that the regular cycle of ciliogenesis and deciliation by the epithelial cells of the mammalian oviduct is dependent upon the levels of circulating estrogen and progesterone (Brenner et al 1974;Verhage et al 1979;Abughrien and Dore 2000). Ciliogenesis in the follicular phase occurs under the influence of estrogen, while the appearance of progesterone at midcycle suppresses ciliogenesis and leads to deciliation.…”

Ultrastructural Changes in the Cervical Epithelium during the Estrous Cycle of the Marsupial <i>Monodelphis domestica</i> (Grey Short-Tailed Opossum)

“…Two main pathways are described, a centriolar and an acentriolar one, both pathways were involved in the development of basal bodies and described in detail by Brenner [1969], Brenner and Anderson [1973], Hagiwara et al [1992], and Abughrien and Dore [2000]. The process of ciliogenesis with the appearance of ciliogenic cells is described in the cervical epithelium of the rabbit [Odor et al, 1989] and in the oviduct epithelium of different species: for example in the mouse [Dirksen and Stapras, 1975] or in the pig-tailed macaque [Rumery et al, 1978;Odor et al, 1980].…”

Ultrastructural Changes in the Uterine Luminal and Glandular Epithelium during the Oestrous Cycle of the Marsupial <i>Monodelphis domestica</i> (Grey Short-Tailed Opossum)

“…Two main pathways are described, a centriolar and an acentriolar one; both pathways are involved in the development of basal bodies and described in detail by Brenner and Anderson [1973], Hagiwara et al [1992] and Abughrien and Dore [2000].…”