RESUMEN
Although studies have focused on extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling during the formation and functioning of adult ovaries, there is no comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms controlling preantral follicle development in fetal bovine ovaries during gestation. Thus, to gain insights into ECM remodeling during initial ovarian development, we used fetal ovaries to quantify the fractal dimension (FD), total collagen, and relative mRNA abundance of genes related to ECM remodeling (COL1A1, COL1A2, COL4A1, MMP2, MMP9, MMP14, TIMP1, and TIMP2). For this, pairs of fetal ovaries were obtained from cows in a local abattoir at days 60, 90, 120, and 150 of gestation; one of each pair was submitted to RNA extraction for target transcript analysis, and the other was used for total collagen and FD evaluation. From day 120 total collagen appeared to occupy a greater area in the fetal ovary. The fractal analysis with picrosirius red staining shows higher at day 150 when compared with that on day 60. On the contrary, we found an inverse pattern when we used the hematoxylin and eosin staining approach. Concerning target gene expression, the relative abundances of COL1A1, COL4A1, MMP2, MMP14, TIMP1, and TIMP2 mRNA were higher on day 150 when compared with that on day 60. We conclude that fractal analysis reflects the morphological changes occurring during structural organization of the fetal ovary and that the expression of genes related to ECM remodeling is modulated throughout gestation in bovine fetal ovaries.
Asunto(s)
Matriz Extracelular/metabolismo , Feto/embriología , Fractales , Ovario/embriología , Ovario/metabolismo , Animales , Bovinos , Femenino , Regulación del Desarrollo de la Expresión Génica , Modelos Biológicos , Fenotipo , Embarazo , ARN Mensajero/genética , ARN Mensajero/metabolismoRESUMEN
To assist in evaluating and quantifying tissue changes, fractal dimension (FD) is a useful method for assessing the organization in an image from fractals that describes the amount of space and the self-similarity of the structure, once FD detects subtle morphological changes and performs functional quantitative measures. Here, we hypothesized that fractal analysis may be different in functional and regressing bovine corpus luteum (CL) and may be correlated with differential expression of genes involved in extracellular matrix remodeling. CL presents two developmental stages, the functional and regressing CL, according to progesterone levels and morphology. First, we found a lower FD in functional CL using HE staining and picrosirius red approach. Additionally, we found a great amount of total collagen in regressing CL. Regarding gene expression, we showed an up regulation of COL1A1, COL1A2, MMP2, and MMP14 and a down regulation of TIMP1 and TIMP2 in regressing CL compared to the functional one. Thus, we concluded that differential FD observed during luteal regression is an effective method to evaluate the tissue changes observed during luteal development in cattle and is related to differential quantity of genes involved in extracellular matrix remodeling.