ELEKTRONENMIKROSKOPISCHE UNTERSUCHUNGEN AN DEN OVARIEN NEUGEBORENER MÄUSE NACH BEHANDLUNG MIT HUMANEM HYPOPHYSÄREM GONADOTROPIN (HHG)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Ovaries of newborn NMRI-mice were examined by light and electron microscopy. They were compared with ovaries of newborn mice stimulated by a single injection of 10 μg of a highly purified preparation of gonadotrophin isolated from human pituitary glands (HHG). In treated animals the development of follicles was accelerated. While in unstimulated ovaries interstitial cells could not be demonstrated before the 9th day of life, typical interstitial cells could be identified 24 h after the injection of HHG. The ultrastructure of interstitial cells of the mouse ovary can be compared with that of interstitial cells of testes and of steroid producing cells of the adrenal cortex. These cells are characterized by big round mitochondria with lamelliform and villiform cristae and a well developed endoplasmic system. They are rich in neutral lipids. Evidently there is no correlation between the development of interstitial cells of newborn mice and follicular atresia.