Immunohistochemical Localization of the Progesterone and Oestrogen α Receptors in the Uterine Horns of the African Giant Rat (Cricetomys gambianus)

• Published in: Anatomia, histologia, embryologia Vol. 38; no. 6; pp. 419 - 423
• Main Authors: Madekurozwa, M.-C, Oke, B.O, Akinloye, A.K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2009; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Endometrium - metabolism; Epithelium - metabolism; Estrogen Receptor alpha - metabolism; Estrous Cycle - metabolism; Female; Immunohistochemistry; Muridae; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - metabolism; Myometrium - metabolism; Progesterone - metabolism; Stromal Cells - metabolism
• ISSN: 0340-2096; 1439-0264
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0264.2009.00962.x

The present study investigated the immunolocalization of the progesterone and oestrogen α receptors in the uterine horns of the African giant rat during the oestrous cycle. The progesterone and oestrogen α receptors were demonstrated in various cellular constituents of the endometrium, myometrium and perimetrium. The intensity of progesterone and oestrogen α receptor immunostaining in the endometrial and myometrial layers of the uterine horns varied during the oestrous cycle. The intensity of oestrogen α receptor immunoreactivity in the luminal epithelium was high during pro-oestrus, oestrus and dioestrus. Progesterone and oestrogen α receptor immunoreactivity in the endometrial epithelia was absent during metoestrus. Moderate to strong immunostaining for the progesterone and oestrogen α receptors was demonstrated in the myometrial smooth muscle cells during pro-oestrus, oestrus and dioestrus. The intensity of progesterone and oestrogen α receptor immunostaining in the myometrial smooth muscle cells was low during metoestrus. Stromal cells in the perimetrium consistently expressed progesterone and oestrogen α receptor immunoreactivity throughout the oestrous cycle. The findings of the study indicate that in the giant rat the immunolocalization of the progesterone and oestrogen α receptors, in endometrial and myometrial regions of the uterine horns, varies during the oestrous cycle.