Morphological and morphometric evaluation of prepubertal gilt ovaries, uterine tubes and uterus at different oestrus cycle stages1

Oberlender G., Pontelo T.P., Miranda J.R., Miranda D.R., Zangeronimo M.G., Silva A.C., Menezes T.A. & Rocha L.G.P. 2014. Morphological and morphometric evaluation of prepubertal gilt ovaries, uterine tubes and uterus at different oestrus cycle stages. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 34(1):83-90. Setor de Fisiologia e Farmacologia Veterinárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Campus Universitário s/n, Caixa Postal 3037, Lavras, MG 37200-000, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected] Studies are performed in developing techniques/procedures that provide greater reproductive performance in farm animals, including pigs. In this sense, the study of gilts reproductive organs at different oestrus cycle stages for assessing the presence of abnormalities and/or other parameters that may affect the future animal fertility is important. In order to evaluate the morphological, morphometric and histomorphometric features of ovaries, uterus and uterine tubes (UTs) characteristics of prepubertal gilts at different oestrus cycle stages, reproductive tracts from 48 animals immediately after slaughter were obtained. After, the structures were dissected and removed, and the ovaries were used for classification of oestrus cycle stage of each gilt in follicular phase (FP) and luteal phase (FL). Then, morphometric evaluations of ovaries, UTs, uterine horns and uterine body were performed. Besides that, medial segments of UTs and uterus were fixed in Bouin solution, processed and included in paraffin, when histological sections of 5.0 micrometers (μm) were obtained and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin. Histomorphometric analyzes using image capture system and specific software were performed. Afterwards, data were submitted to Student’s t test for assessment the statistical differences (P<0.05) between the two different oestrus cycle stages (FP × LP) and between the placement of reproductive structures (right × left antimer). Among the gilts evaluated, 35 were in the FP and 13 in LP. There was no difference (P>0.05) between morphometric parameters of ovaries, UTs and uterus of gilts in FP and LP. Likewise, in respect to the placement of reproductive structures, both in the oestrus cycle stages, as in the general average, there was no difference (P>0.05). Regarding the histomorphometric variables, gilts classified in FP presented a higher (P<0.05) height of glandular and UT epithelium compared to animals in LP. On the other hand, the diameter of endometrial glands was higher (P<0.05) in gilts at LP compared to FP. Furthermore, gilts in LP presented a higher (P<0.05) proportion of endometrium occupied by glands, whereas animals in FP had a higher (P<0.05) proportion of connective tissue and blood vessels. In conclusion, in prepubertal gilts, the histomorphometric parameters as endometrial glands diameter, the height of glandular epithelium and of UT epithelium and the proportion of 1 Received on February 7, 2013. Accepted for publication on January 9, 2014. 2 Curso de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul (UFFS), Campus Realeza. Acesso Rodovia PR-182 Km 466, Rua Edmundo Gaievski, 1000, Bairro Jardim Primavera, Cx. Postal 253, Realeza, PR 85770-000, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected] 3 Setor de Fisiologia e Farmacologia Veterinárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Campus Universitário s/n, Cx. Postal 3037, Lavras, MG 37200-000, Brazil. *Corresponding author: [email protected] 4 Setor de Morfologia Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, UFLA, Campus Universitário s/n, Cx. Postal 3037, Lavras, MG 37200-000.