Uterine Artery Interruption: Evidence for Follicular Growth and Histochemical and Biochemical Changes

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the effects of bilateral uterine artery ligation (BUAL) on the ovarian follicular fate, and alterations in carbohydrate, lipid, lipase and serum levels of F9SH, LH, prolactin, estrogen and progesterone. METHODS: Twenty-four mature female rabbits divided into two test and control-sham groups. The animals underwent ovariohystrectomy on days 23, 43 and 63 after BUAL. Later serum and tissue samples were processed for histological and bio-chemical analyses. Two-way ANOVA test was used for statistical analyses and p<0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: The ovaries from the case groups exhibited markedly increased atretic follicles, which were characterized by early antrum formation, ooplasmic vacoulation, granulosa cells dissociation and oocyte deformation. Lipid foci were remarkably present in the cytoplasm of oocytes, granulosa and theca cells in BUAL rabbits. Smaller sized atretic follicles showed higher lipid reactions than large ones. The PAS reaction was highly positive in zona pellucida (ZP), basement membrane, granulosa cells and follicular fluid of atretic follicles. Early atresiated follicles showed remarkable reaction sites for lipase. Significant (p<0.05) increase in serum levels of FSH, LH, progesterone, and prolactin was revealed in BUAL rabbits compared to the control group while serum levels of estrogen decreased time-dependently in the test groups. CONCLUSION: The current study suggests the critical role of the uterine artery in controlling ovulation and follicular growth. Moreover atresia processes might relate to lipid accumulation in the cells along with attenuation of lipase activity.