Abstract: 18

OBSERVATION OF MARE OVARY BY THREE-DIMENSIONAL INTERNAL STRUCTURE MICROSCOPY (3D-ISM).

Junpei Kimura^{1 *}, Hideo Yokota² , Yasuo Nambo³ , Toshiro Higuchi⁴
Dept. Veterinary Anatomy, Nihon Univ., Kanagawa, Japan ¹
KAST, Kanagawa, Japan ²
JRA, Tochigi, Japan ³
Faculty of Engineering, Univ. of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan ⁴

The ovary of the mare is unique in its structure and totally different from that of other mammals. And, because of its relatively large size, it was difficult to use the conventional histological techniques to observe the inside structure of the whole ovary. 3D-ISM, consisting of a cryotome-CCD camera-laser disc recorder-monitor system and coupled with a graphical workstation, was applied to observe the mare ovary. The internal structure of the ovary is observed by processing more than 2000 stored images of serially sliced surfaces of each frozen equine ovary. The 3D reconstruction was done by full colored volume rendering method. The number and size of the follicles from each ovary were recorded and grouped. The relationship of the localization of medulla, cortex and ovulation fossa was clarified. The ovulation fossa is localized in the center of the ovary and is surrounded by broad ovarian cortex. A trace of ovulation was observed at the ovulation fossa. Medulla are localized in a narrow peripheral area. The phenomena of the competition on occupying the cortex area ahead of the ovulation fossa by developing secondary follicles was visualized. Spatial localization of variously sized follicles was identified from 3D-reconstructed images. In this study, it has been shown that application of this computorized novel technique can clarify the anatomical arrangements of equine ovary and the complex mechanism of follicular development.

    This abstract is being presented on Sunday, August 1 at 8:00 AM to 10:15 AM at CUB 2nd Floor Ballroom.