Mechanisms and physiological implications of leucocyte chemoattraction into periovulatory ovine follicles

in Reproduction
Authors:
W. J. Murdoch
Search for other papers by W. J. Murdoch in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
and
R. J. McCormick
Search for other papers by R. J. McCormick in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/jrf.0.0970375
Volume/Issue:
Volume 97: Issue 2
Page Range:
375–380
Article Type:
Research Article
Online Publication Date:
Mar 1993
Free access

Sign up for journal news

Leucotactic polypeptide was isolated from follicular-conditioned incubation media by ultrafiltration and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The bioactive fraction was subjected to amino acid analysis and shown to be abundant in glycine, proline and hydroxyproline. These amino acid residues are common to repetitive sequences of α collagens. Synthetic collagen-like peptides composed of repeating triplets of glycine, proline and hydroxyproline (GPH × 3, GPH × 9) were active in attracting white blood cells as measured in vitro using a linear under-agarose assay. Accumulation of leucocytes within extravascular spaces of the theca interna was induced by intrafollicular injection of GPH × 3 or bacterial collagenase. Intrafollicular administration of affinity-purified GPH × 3 antibodies during the immediate preovulatory period inhibited thecal extravasation of leucocytes, but did not negate follicular rupture. However, serum concentrations of progesterone were depressed in antibody-treated animals throughout the ensuing luteal phase. This luteal defect was counteracted by injecting leucocytes into the preovulatory follicle. It is concluded that periovulatory follicles of the sheep secrete collagen-like leucotactic peptides. Once drawn into the follicle, resident inflammatory cells are apparently involved in transforming it into a fully functional corpus luteum.

Reproduction is committed to supporting researchers in demonstrating the impact of their articles published in the journal.

The two types of article metrics we measure are (i) more traditional full-text views and pdf downloads, and (ii) Altmetric data, which shows the wider impact of articles in a range of non-traditional sources, such as social media.

More information is on the Reasons to publish page.

Sept 2018 onwards Past Year Past 30 Days
Full Text Views 158 45 1
PDF Downloads 90 31 0

 

  • Collapse
  • Expand
Print ISSN:
1470-1626
Online ISSN:
1741-7899