Distribution of the intermediate filament proteins vimentin, keratin, and desmin in the bovine ovary

Abstract

The distribution of the intermediate filament (IF) proteins desmin, keratin, and vimentin was studied immunohistochemically in bovine ovaries. Special attention was paid to granulosa cells to examine possible marked changes of IF distribution in relation to folliculogenesis during ovarian development. Therefore, ovaries were used from fetuses from 3 months of gestation onward, calves, heifers, and cows. In all ovaries, desmin immunoreactivity was restricted to smooth muscle cells in blood vessel walls. Keratin appeared a characteristic of the ovarian surface epithelium. Co-localization of keratin and vimentin was observed in the epithelium of rete ovarii tubules in fetuses and calves, and in cortical cord epithelium and pregranulosa cells of primordial follicles in fetuses at 3-7 months of gestation. Vimentin was demonstrated in endothelium and in fibroblasts. In addition, vimentin immunoreactivity was present in granulosa cells of primary, secondary, and antral follicles. In antral follicles, these granulosa cells mainly had an elongated appearance and either contained an oblong or a round nucleus. Those with an oblong nucleus were characteristic for atretic antral follicles. In nonatretic follicles, numerous vimentin immunoreactive, elongated granulosa cells with a round nucleus were observed, especially in the peripheral granulosa layer and in small ( < 3 mm in diameter) antral follicles. Additionally, in antral follicles, protrusions of vimentin-positive corona radiata cells were observed, that penetrated the zona pellucida to contact the oocyte. The data show that the distribution of vimentin containing IFs is associated with various aspects of granulosa cell activity, as mitosis, atresia, and intercellular transport.

Cytoskeletal proteins in the follicular wall of normal andcystic ovaries of sows

“…Previous studies have demonstrated that changes and destabilization of the cytoskeletal proteins (microtubules, microfilaments and intermediate filaments) of the ovary decrease hardly the production of steroid hormones and can contribute with the cystogenesis (Chen et al 1994). Although the expression of cytoskeletal proteins has been studied in normal ovarian structures of many species including the sheep (Marettova & Maretta 2002), cow (Van der Huck et al 1995) and rat (Selstam et al 1993), there are no investigations about the expression of these proteins in normal and affected swine ovary. Recently, it was suggested that cytoskeletal proteins conducting the functional and structural changes during the cystogenesis participated in the pathogenesis of the COD in rats ) and in cows (Ortega et al 2007b).…”

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

“…In older investigations of human [Czernobilsky et al, 1985] and other mammalian ovaries [van den Hurk et al, 1995], co-expression of vimentin and CK filaments was demonstrated at the granulosa layer. In the rat, as the follicular epithelium becomes multi-layered during follicular growth, keratin was retained by granulosa cells adjacent to the follicular basement membranes but disappeared from cells that were displaced towards follicle centres.…”

“…In some of these studies, vimentin and CKs were detected within the granulosa cells of follicles at various stages of growth and atresia, in luteal cells of the corpus luteum throughout the luteal phase, and in oocytes from both fetal and adult ovaries [Czernobilsky et al, 1985;Gall, 1991;Santini et al, 1993;Gallicano et al, 1994;van den Hurk et al, 1995;Marettová and Maretta, 2002]. Of vertebrate germ cells, nuclear IFs, called lamins, have thus far only been found in the oocytes of Xenopus [Gall et al, 1989] and in the oocytes of mice [Arnault et al, 2010].…”

“…The expression of several classes of cytoplasmic IFs in the ovary has been described for several mammalian and avian species [Czernobilsky et al, 1985;Gall, 1991;Santini et al, 1993;Gallicano et al, 1994;Bukovsky et al, 1995;Ricken et al, 1995;van den Hurk et al, 1995;Pan and Auersperg, 1998;Löffler et al, 2000;Marettová and Maretta, 2002]. In some of these studies, vimentin and CKs were detected within the granulosa cells of follicles at various stages of growth and atresia, in luteal cells of the corpus luteum throughout the luteal phase, and in oocytes from both fetal and adult ovaries [Czernobilsky et al, 1985;Gall, 1991;Santini et al, 1993;Gallicano et al, 1994;van den Hurk et al, 1995;Marettová and Maretta, 2002].…”

Adenomatous Hyperplasia of the Rete Ovarii in a Beagle

“…These tubules are usually located in the hilus of the ovary, but may extend through the medulla or be isolated in the mesovarium adjacent to the hilus 1 . Rete epithelium is immunoreactive for cytokeratins, desmoplakins and vimentin, and has numerous desmosome-tonofilament complexes as seen by electron microscopical examination 2,3 . O'Shea observed mucinous secretion of non-sulfated, acid mucopoly-saccharide in the rete tubules of dogs 4 .…”