Cell proliferation in ovarian follicles from Bos taurus indicus females with different antral follicle count

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the cell proliferation rate of follicles from Bos taurus indicus females with different antral follicle counts (AFCs). Thirty pairs of ovaries were classified as having low (≤ 31 follicles), intermediate (≥ 46 and ≤ 76 follicles) or high AFC (≥ 91 follicles). The ovaries were cut into 1 x 1 x 0.3 cm fragments, fixed in 10% buffered formalin solution and subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). PCNA detection was detected in all stages of follicular development, being 1,388 (82.23%) primordial, 197 (11.67%) primary, 29 (1.72%) secondary and 74 (4.83%) antral follicles. The PCNA detection rate was higher (P ≤ 0.05) for antral and secondary follicles in ovaries with intermediate and low AFCs. This study showed that higher PCNA at early stages of follicular growth is detected in animals with high AFC, whereas a higher PCNA is seen in secondary and antral follicles of animals with low AFC.