Inoue S, Watanabe H, Saito H, Hiroi M, Tonosaki A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yamagata University, School of Medicine, Japan.
J Anat. 2000 Jan;196 ( Pt 1)(Pt 1):103-10. doi: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.2000.19610103.x.
We examined numerous ovarian follicles from 32-35 d virgin mice by transmission electron microscopy and light microscopic immunohistochemistry. No macrophages were seen, but various stages of apoptotic granulosa cells were encountered. Presumably a granulosa cell or its debris in an advanced stage of apoptosis was destined to be phagocytosed by adjacent normal-looking granulosa cells. Other granulosa cells of normal appearance were seen in the region of the zona pellucida in contact with and apparently phagocytosing atrophic oocytes. Such granulosa cells were characterised by the presence of gap junctions with other cells and frequently contained annular gap junctions in the cytoplasm. To confirm the lack of involvement of macrophages in the process of follicular atresia and elimination, specially prepared ovarian sections were incubated with antimouse macrophage monoclonal antibodies (F4/80, Mac-1, Mac-2). None of the follicles examined showed positive immunoreactivity with these antibodies. Atretic follicles may shrink and eventually disappear from the ovary as a result of repeated apoptosis and phagocytosis by granulosa cells. There is no evidence for the presence or involvement of macrophages in the atretic follicles, at least in prereproductive mice as examined.
我们通过透射电子显微镜和光镜免疫组织化学检查了32 - 35日龄处女小鼠的大量卵巢卵泡。未观察到巨噬细胞，但发现了不同阶段的凋亡颗粒细胞。推测处于凋亡晚期的颗粒细胞或其碎片会被相邻外观正常的颗粒细胞吞噬。在透明带区域可见其他外观正常的颗粒细胞，它们与萎缩的卵母细胞接触并明显在吞噬这些卵母细胞。这类颗粒细胞的特征是与其他细胞存在间隙连接，且细胞质中常含有环状间隙连接。为证实巨噬细胞未参与卵泡闭锁和清除过程，将特制的卵巢切片与抗小鼠巨噬细胞单克隆抗体（F4/80、Mac - 1、Mac - 2）孵育。所检查的卵泡均未显示与这些抗体的阳性免疫反应性。闭锁卵泡可能会因颗粒细胞反复凋亡和吞噬而缩小，最终从卵巢中消失。至少在所检查的生殖前期小鼠中，没有证据表明巨噬细胞存在于闭锁卵泡中或参与其中。
