Veterinary Archives, Vol. 69 No. 2, 1999.
Original scientific paper
Ultrastructural and morphometrical studies on the endothelial cells of the pectoral mammary gland capillaries in Wistar rats during the reproductive cycle.
Mohammad Abdul Awal
; Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
Mitsuharu Matsumoto
; Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima, Japan
Hayao Nishinakagawa
; Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima, Japan
Abstract
The ultrastructure and morphometry of the endothelial cells of pectoral mammary gland capillaries of female Wistar rats were studied through the reproductive cycle with an electron microscope and image analyser. Subendothelial spaces were absent in the mammary gland capillaries. The density of pinocytotic vesicles (PV) in the capillaries (number of PV per µm2 of endothelial cytoplasm) was significantly increased during pregnancy, reaching maximum values during lactation, and which subsequently decreased during the post-wening stage. The capillaries showed the maximum changes of PV during pregnancy and lactation, with two- and four-fold increases during the respective periods. The density of mitochondria and the length of marginal folds and microvillus processes were also increased significantly (P>0.05) during pregnancy and lactation. The length of marginal folds and microvillus processes were increased two-fold during the lactating period. It is assumed that the ultrastructural changes of endothelial cells of mammary gland capillaries are closely related during the reproductive cycle, and certainly with the functional demand of the mammary glands.
Keywords
ultrastructure; morphometry; endothelial cells; mammary gland capillaries; Wistar rats
Hrčak ID:
105195
URI
Publication date:
18.4.1999.
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