Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of macrophages collected from the rabbit regressive corpus luteum

Abstract

We evaluated quantitative and qualitative alterations of luteal macrophages (LMPs) recovered from the rabbit ovaries in different luteal phases. Corpora lutea (CLs) were formed by superovulation using eCG and hCG. The day of hCG injection was designated as day 0 of pseudopregnancy (PSP 0). The collection of LMPs performed respectively in functional luteal phase (PSP 7), regressive luteal phase (PSP 16) and PSP 19 as a period within luteal atresia (corpora albicantia formation). We calculated that the number of LMP collected from one ovary divided by the number of CLs was equal to the number of LMPs per CL. To investigate qualitative alteration of LMP from each luteal phase, phagocytic activities of isolated LMPs to seep erythrocytes (sRBC) and opsonized sRBC (osRBC) was also examined. These activities were shown in phagocytosis index (PI). Significant (p<0.05) large number of LMPs per CL could be obtained in PSP16 as compared in PSP7 and in PSP19. Marked high PI to osRBC was also observed in PSP16. These results suggest that LMP concern in luteolysis with immuno-reactivity to luteal components.