Histological and immunohistochemical staining of corpus luteum in cyclic diestrus and pregnant bitches

• Grant number: 11/01585-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2011
• End date: May 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Maria Denise Lopes
• Grantee: Anderson Alves Ribeiro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The luteal phase on the pregnant bitches and non-pregnant is characteristic of this species and resembles significantly with respect in the growth pattern and luteal regression. Specific avaliation as histological studies and immunostainings of the corpus luteum (CL) may be able to demonstrate differences between the pregnant CL and non- pregnant CL. The purpose of this study is to characterize histologically and immunolocalize the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the factor related to cell proliferation (Ki-67) in the pregnant CL (approximately up to 25 days after the LH surge) and non- pregnant CL (early diestrus cyclic and gestational). Will be used 12 bitches, divided into two groups: Group I (experimental) - 7 bitches that will be inseminated 4 and 6 days after the preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge, with fresh semen. This group will be submitted to ovariohysterectomy (OSH) among the 8 to 21 days after first insemination. Group II (control) - 5 bitches that won't be inseminated and will be subjected to OSH from 12 to 25 days of the preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge. The ovaries will be isolated, identified and sectioned longitudinally in order to quantify the number of CL, then, portions of the ovarian cortex containing the CLs will be removed, stored for histological and immunohistochemical processing with the purpose of identifying the VEGF and Ki-67.