Conditional ablation of macrophages disrupts ovarian vasculature

• DOI: 10.1530/rep-10-0327
• Publication Date: 2011-03-11T01:58:43Z
• Authors: Emily C Turner; Jeremy Hughes; Helen Wilson; Michael Clay; Katie J Mylonas; Tiina Kipari; W Colin Duncan; Hamish M Fraser
• Keywords: Diphtheria Toxin; CD31

Macrophages are the most abundant immune cell within ovary. Their dynamic distribution throughout ovarian cycle and heterogenic array of functions suggest involvement in various processes, but their functional role has yet to be fully established. The aim was induce conditional macrophage ablation elucidate putative macrophages maintaining integrity vasculature. Using CD11b-diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR) mouse, which expression human DTR is under control macrophage-specific promoter sequence CD11b, were specifically ablated adult females by injections diphtheria (DT). CD11b-DTR mice given DT treatment or vehicle ovaries collected at 2, 8, 16, 24 48 h. Histochemical stains employed characterise morphological changes, immunohistochemistry for F4/80 identify endothelial marker CD31 used quantify vascular changes. In normal ovaries, detected corpora lutea theca layer healthy atretic follicles. As progressed, increasing amounts haemorrhage observed affecting both luteal thecal tissue associated with significant depletion, increased erythrocyte accumulation follicular atresia 16 These events followed necrosis profound structural damage. Changes limited ovary, as does not disrupt vasculature other tissues likely reflecting unique cyclical nature heterogeneity between different tissues. results show that play a critical integrity.