Studies on the Appearance and Function of the Central Cavity of Corpus Luteum in the Ovaries of the Korean Native Cattle

한우 난소의 중심강이 있는 황체의 출현과 기능에 관한 연구

The appearance and function of corpora lutea(CL) with a central cavity in the ovaries of Korean Native Cattle (KNC) were investigated endocrinologically and histochemically. The CL were enucleated from KNC ovaries within 2~3 hrs local slaughter house and classified with central cavity CL or not. Enzymatically dispersed luteal cell (1$\times$106 live cell/ml of Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Media) with or without cavity of CL cultured at 37$^{\circ}C$ in a humidified incubation (5% CO2 : 95% air) for 72hr. A central cavity in the CL of KNC was found in 58.8% of CL-1, 34.9% of CL 2, 39.1% of CL-3, and 11.1% of CL-4, respectively. There were no significant difference between protein content of CL with and without a central cavity. Mean progesterone secretion after 36h of in vitro luteal cell culture were significantly (p<0.05) higher in CL with central cavity than without cavity. However, the luteal cavitic wall was composed of the connective tissue band of the reticular and collagen fibers and then these connective tissue band extended into the CL with cavity. These results suggest that the central cavity of CL may be caused infertility in KNC.