Vol 63, No 4 (2004)
Original article
Published online: 2004-09-16
Morphometric changes in the corpus luteum of pregnant hypokinetic rats
Folia Morphol 2004;63(4):413-417.
Abstract
The aim of this work was to study the influence of hypokinetic conditions on
the ovary and corpus luteum of pregnant rats. The rats were kept in hypokinetic
conditions for 5 days in the period between the 13th and 18th days of
pregnancy. A three-dimensional reconstruction of the ovary and corpora lutea
and also a stereological evaluation of the luteal cells and their nuclei were
performed using serially cut material. Hypokinesia caused a decrease in the
mean volume of the ovary and individual corpus luteum and in the total volume
of corpora lutea per ovary in immobilised animals as compared to the
control. Moreover, a decrease was observed in the mean number of luteal
cells and an increase in the size of these cells, as well as in the mean volume
fraction of their nuclei. These results indicate that immobilisation of pregnant
rats for 5 days considerably influences the morphology of the corpus luteum
and luteal cells.
Keywords: immobilisationstereologyovaryluteal cells