Summary
The progesterone concentration, histology, histochemistry and ultrastructure of the corpora lutea of 21 Welsh Mountain sheep between day 10 of the cycle and the following oestrus were studied. In two of the animals the corpora lutea had recently regressed to become corpora albicantia.
The progesterone concentrations in the luteal tissue were high from day 10–14; on day 15 the progesterone level had dropped to a very low level in 3 out of 4 animals. From day 12 onwards glycogen accumulated in the lutein cells and on day 13 the number of matrical granules in the mitochondria began to increase. The possible significance of these changes is discussed.
The first definite structural sign of degeneration of the corpus luteum appeared to be karyorrhexis. Whether or not this occurs before the steroid secretion declines still remains to be determined.
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This investigation was supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (Projects No. B 69-12X-78-04A and B 70-12X-78-05B). We are grateful to Professor T. R. R. Mann, F. R. S. for reading and discussing the manuscript and to Mrs. L. Grahn, Mrs. A.-G. Hjortsberg and Mrs. P. Miles for skilled technical assistance.
Many of the electron micrographs used in this study were taken by Dr. Deane (Department of Anatomy, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York) before her death in 1966.
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Bjersing, L., Hay, M.F., Moor, R.M. et al. Endocrine activity, histochemistry and ultrastructure of ovine corpora lutea. Z. Zellforsch. 111, 437–457 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330923
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330923