• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2009

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1) is released from the macrophages and endothelial cells, regulated luteotropic and luteolytic actions of macrophages and induced luteolysis. However, the mechanisms of MCP-1 on the development and maintenance of pregnant corpora lutea are thoroughly unknown. In this experiment, TUNEL stain, ED1, ED2, and MCP-1 immunohistochemistry on the corpora lutea of pregnant rats were carried out to reveal the role of macrophages in the developing corpora lutea. In the postpartum corpora lutea, the number of macrophages was increased significantly, and the intensity of ED1 and ED2 immunoreactivity in macrophages were increased moderately, and MCP-1 immunoreactivity was also increased. In conclusion, macrophages in the postpartum corpora lutea may exert phagocytic action mainly, and the macrophages in the pregnant corpora lutea maintain the structure and function of lutein cells.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.118-127
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• 1999

The aim of this study was to establish the method of differential diagnosis between developing and regressing corpus luteum in cows. Plasma progesterone (P$_4$) concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay in slaughtered, cycling and pregnant cows. Ultrasonography was used to measure the corpus luteum size and histogram values for determining the correlationships between corpus luteum area or histogram values and plasma P$_4$ concentrations. The corpora lutea were monitored in vitro (water-bath scanning) by using ultrasonography with 7.5 MHz linear-array transducer in 196 slaughtered cows. The correlation coefficient between corpus luteum area and plasma P$_4$ concentrations was 0.46 (p<0.01), and between histogram values and plasma P$_4$ concentrations was -0.44 (p<0.01), respectively. The corpora lutea were monitored by ultrasonography with 5.0 MHz linear-array transrectal transducer in 188 cycling and 30 pregnant cows. The corpus luteum areas and plasma P4 concentrations were significantly different between regressing and other corpora lutea (p<0.01), and also histogram values were significantly different between regressing and developing corpola lutea (p＜0.01). The correlation coefficients between corpus luteum areas and plasma P$_4$ concentrations were 0.76 (p<0.01), 0.71 (p<0.01), 0.65 (p＜0.05) and 0.68 (p<0.05), and between histogram values and plasma P$_4$ concentrations were 0.74 (p<0.05), 0.71 (p＜0.01), -0.52 (p<0.05) and 0.65 (p＜0.05) in developing, functional, regressing and pregnant corpora lutea, respectively. These results indicate that corpus luteum areas and plasma P$_4$ concentrations were highly correlated in all stages of corpus luteum. The histogram values and plasma P$_4$ concentrations were positive correlated in developing, functional and pregnant corpora lutea, but negative correlated in regressing corpus luteum. Therefore, the measurement of corpus luteum area and histogram value by ultrasonography is reliable method for the assessment of luteal function, specially developing and regressing corpus luteum.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.203-209
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• 1997

This study was carried out to compare the actual size(length and height) of ovaries, follicles and corpora lutea of Korean native cow with those on sonograms. We used 3 different probes(3.5 MHz abdominal probe, 6.5 MHz transvaginal probe and 5.0 MHz transrectal probe) and a calipher for measurements of ovaries, follicles and corpora lutea on sonograms and actual size. Under water immersion, 157 ovaries were scanned with 3 probes and measured in actual size and compared each other. The average height and width of ovaries of Korean native cows were 17.40$\pm$3.99 and 34.23$\pm$6.02mm, respectively. In comparison of height, length of ovaries and preovulation follicles, we found that image with a transvaginal probe was nearly the same as the actual size(p<0.01), but with an abdominal probe the image was appeared larger than the actual size. In measurement(diameter) of preovulation follicles the transvaginal probe was proven to be more accurate to the actual size than other probes and in corpus luteum measurement all probes were accurate. In the comparison of number of follicles by different size ranges, there was no statistical difference in the count of follicles over 10 mm in diameter between the transvaginal probe and naked eyes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.626-631
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• 2005

Nitric oxide (NO) derived from inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is involved in cell apoptosis, which contributes to luteal regression and luteolysis in some species. In large domestic animals, no direct evidence for the relationship between NO and cell apoptosis in the process of corpus luteum regression is reported. The present study was conducted to investigate the localization of iNOS on porcine corpora lutea (CL) during the oestrus cycle and its relation to cell DNA fragmentation and CL regression. According to morphology, four luteal phases throughout the estrous cycle were defined as CL1, CL2, CL3 and CL4. By isoform-specific antibody against iNOS, the immunochemial staining was determined. Luteal cell DNA fragmentation was determined by flow cytometry. The results showed that no positive staining for iNOS was in CL1 and that iNOS was produced but limited to the periphery of CL2, while in the CL3, the spreading immunochemical staining was found inside the CL. No iNOS positive staining was detected in CL4. Meanwhile, DNA fragmentation increased dramatically when CL developed from CL2 to CL3 (p<0.05). In CL4, higher proportion of luteal cells still had fragmented DNA than that of luteal cells from CL1 or CL2 (p<0.05). These results indicate that iNOS expression is closely related to luteal cell apoptosis and then to luteal regression.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.404-409
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• 1998

Nine cows were superovulated by administration of 8 injections of Folltropin each (2.5 ml/injection, 1.75 mg/ml) i.m spread over 4 days, beginning on Day 10 of oestrous cycle, and 30 and 20 mg prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ was given along with the 5th and 6th injections of Folltropin, respectively, to induce luteolysis. The animals were artificially inseminated 48, 60 and 72 h after the first prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ injection. The number of corpora lutea was recorded by palpation per rectum and by ultrasonography on Day 6 (Day 0 = day of oestrus). The ovaries were examined daily by ultrasonography on Days 3-9 of the oestrous cycle for following the growth and regression of the largest follicle, which was considered the morphologically dominant follicle. The animals were classified into two groups depending upon the presence (n = 4) and absence of a dominant follicle (n = 5). There was a high correlation (r = 0.97, p < 0.001) between the number of corpora lutea observed by palpation per rectum and that determined by ultrasonography. Mean (${\pm}SEM$) number of corpora lutea determined by ultrasonography ($11.20{\pm}3.71$ vs $3.25{\pm}0.75$) and by palpation per rectum ($10.40{\pm}3.91$ vs $2.25{\pm}0.75$) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the nondominant group compared to that in the dominant group. There was no difference in the numbers of follicles 2-3 mm ($13.80{\pm}4.49$ vs $8.00{\pm}1.08$), 4-6 mm ($7.00{\pm}1.87$ vs $3.50{\pm}1.33$), and the total number of follicles ${\geq}2mm$ ($22.00{\pm}5.95$ vs $12.50{\pm}1.26$) between the two groups, one day prior to initiation of superovulation. There was, however, a significant (p<0.01) positive correlation between the number of corpora lutea with the numbers of follicles 2-3 mm (r = 0.83), 4-6 mm (r = 0.80) and the total number of follicles ${\geq}2mm$ (r = 0.89) observed one day prior to initiation of superovulation. The results of this study indicate that the presence of a dominant follicle adversely affects the superovulatory response in cattle.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2001

The effects of PMSG and/or prostaglandin analogue, cloprostenol, on the prevention of implantation, termination of pregnancy, concentration of plasma progesterone, and Na and K contents of the plasma and uterine fluid were studied in pregnant rats. PMSG 50 or 100 IU concomitant with cloprostenol 90 or 180 mg were administered once on day 3 or 9 of gestation. Rats were autopsied on days 8, 10 or 21 gestation. A single administration of PMSG resulted in increasing the number of corpora lutea, preventing implantation and terminating pregnancy. A single administration of cloprostenol had no effect on the prevention of implantation and termination of pregnancy but was able to induce the termination of pregnancy administering at large doses on day 9. A single administration of PMSG concomitant with cloprostenol ws found to be very increased the number of corpora lutea and to be 100% effective in preventing implantation and to be nearly 100% effective in terminating pregnancy. It is uncommon that a single dose of PMSG 50 IU concomitant with cloprostenol 90 or 180 mg on day 9 was able to maintain the pregnancy at very low rates of 0.3∼5.3%. Concentration of plasma progesterone and Na and K contents of the plasma and uterine fluid were increased or decreased administering PMSG and/or cloprostenol, but had no effect on preventing implantation and terminating pregnancy.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.321-323
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• 1995

Observations were recorded regarding various fertility parameters on 26 Jersey donor cows following superovulation under tropical conditions. These cows, in their mid-luteal phase were treated with 2,500-3,000 i.u. PMSG or 28-40 mg FSH followed by $500{\mu}g$ $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injection 48-60 hours later, to induce oestrus. The cows were bred artificially twelve hours following standing oestrus. Embryo collection was carried out 7 days after oestrus. $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ was injected to each donor cow after embryo recovery to regress the corpora lutea. Fertility data($PGF_{2{\alpha}}$-Oestrus interval, services per conception, days between embryo collection and successful service and any pathololgical condition) were recorded. $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$-Oestrus interval and correlation (r) between number of corpora lutea and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$-Oestrus interval were $30.9{\pm}6.3$ and 0.17, respectively. Of 26 treated donors, 19 conceived within a period of $91.7{\pm}18.8$ days after embryo recovery. Average services per conception were $2.3{\pm}0.3$. Only two cows developed metritis which conceived after treatment with antibiotics. These observations indicated no profound adverse effect of superovulation on subsequent reproduction of donor cows, except some effect on services per conception, under tropical conditions.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 1997

Ultrasonographic diagnosis of genital disease and early pregnancy diagnosis was performed in Korean native cattle. The size of ovarian follicle in preovulation, luteal stage and follicular cyst was 18.9, 9.2 and 27.6 mm, respectively, and the thickness of follicular wall was 2.3, 1.8 and 2.8 mm, respectively. The size of corpus luteums in formation stage, activity stage, regression stage, cystic corpora lutea and luteal cyst was 6.2, 11.3, 8.6, 26.7 and 25.9 mm, respectively. The thickness of luteal wall in cystic corpora lutea and luteal cyst was 8.4 and 4.9 mm, respectively. The size of embryo or fetus on day 25, 27, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 was 0.8, 0.9, 1.3, 1.5, 2.2, 2.8 and 3.8 cm, respectively. The size of amniotic vesicle on day 25, 27 and 30 was 1.2, 2.1 and 3,0 cm, respectively. The diameter of pregnant uterus on day 25 and 27 was 7.0 and 7.8 cm, respectively. It was concluded that the ultrasonographci values determined in this study can be used as references for the treatment of genital disease and early pregnancy diagnosis in Korean native cattle.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.151-157
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• 2009

Serial ultrasonography was conducted on Miniature Schnauzer bitches, on purpose to observe the ultrasonographic appearance of normal ovaries and ovarian structures during the estrous cycle. The size of ovaries was increased from $76.8{\pm}7.5mm^2(Mean{\pm}S.D)$ on Day-12 (Day-0=ovulation day) to $114.4{\pm}5.5mm^2$ on Day-8 and there was no significantly different between both ovaries. The ovaries were recognized by its proximity to the caudal renal pole and appeared moderately echogenic oval shape with a smooth contour. The size of follicles was increased from $8.1{\pm}4.5mm^2$ on Day-12 to $114.4{\pm}5.5mm^2$ on Day-0 and there was no significantly different between both ovaries. The number of follicles was increased from $2.8{\pm}0.7$ on Day-12 to $1.1{\pm}0.1$ on Day-0 and there was no significantly different between both ovaries. The follicles were small anechoic fluid-filled structures in early of proestrus, more increased, and indistinguished from each follicles in late of proestrus. The size of corpora lutea was increased from $19.3{\pm}2.1mm^2$ on Day-0 to $26.4{\pm}8.1mm^2$ on Day-8 and there was no significantly different between both ovaries. The number of corpora lutea was increased from $1.4{\pm}0.6$ on Day-0 to $2.9{\pm}0.4$ on Day-38 and there was no significantly different between both ovaries. The corpora lutea were small anechoic cavity and thin hyperechoic wall in early of diestrus, became more hyperechoic, and increased homogenous structures. The results of this study would be useful for differential diagnosis between normal and abnormal structures of ovaries.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.711-720
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• 2005

In the corpus luteum, TNF$\alpha$ is known to induce functional and structural luteolysis. In addition, it acts as luteotropic agent during the initial and early stage of luteal development. In spite of its importance in corpus luteal development, there is still different opinions for the source cells of TNF$\alpha$ in the corpus luteum. One is the macrophages only, and the other is macrophages are the main source and endothelial cells are the minor source. In this experiment, using the porcine corpora lutea of pregnancy and ovulatory stages, hematoxylin-eosin stain, macrophage and TNF$\alpha$ immunohistochemistry were carried to reveal the sources of TNF$\alpha$. As a result, MAC 387-positive macrophages were present in all the stages of corpora lutea. In the mature corpora lutea of nonpregnant stages, the sites of MAC 387-positive macrophages and those of TNF$\alpha$- positive macrophages were coincided, and the sites of endothelial cells and those of TNF$\alpha$-positive endothelial cells were nearly coincided. But, in the mature CL of pregnant stage, mid- and advanced luteolytic stages of both nonpregnant and pregnant stages, the sites of MAC 387-positive macrophages and those of TNF$\alpha$-positive macrophages were coincided, but not in the endothelial cells. Accordingly, it can be concluded that macrophages are the main source of TNF$\alpha$ in the corpus luteum and endothelial cells are the minor source in the mature and mid-lytic stages, but, in the advanced luteolytic stage, macrophages are the only source of TNF$\alpha$.