Morphometry and immunohistochemistry of follicles growth and steroidogenesis in saharian wild sand rat, Psammomys obesus, ovary.

The sand rat (Psammomys obesus) constitutes a model to study seasonal changes and several metabolic disorders. In order to perform breeding laboratory conditions, the reproductive function of this species living in North Occidental Algerian Sahara was studied. The aim of this work was to investigate the follicular growth changes and the steroidogenic associated aspects. The study was performed using morphometrical and immunohistochemical methods. From primordial to preantral states, the follicle diameter increased progressively from 17-20 mum to 192-225 mum. The preovulatory follicles reached about 500 mum in diameter. Immunoreactivity to progesterone, androstenediol and estradiol, varied in the different parts of the ovary and follicular cells. The progesterone antibody appeared clearly labelled in the theca interna of the growing follicle and increased in the granulosa; the androgen antibody was continuously weak and diffuses in all follicles; the estradiol labelling appeared weak and diffuse in preantral follicles then increased in antral follicles in both theca and granulosa or only in granulosa. In antral follicles, estradiol label was clearly localized in granulosa cells and totally devoid in theca cells. In Psammomys ovary, labels of hormone were diffuse or localized, weak or intense in the theca and or in the granulosa according to the follicle size.