Stereological estimation of ovarian oocyte volume, surface area and number: application on mice treated with nandrolone decanoate

Abstract

Changes in the number and size of oocytes can lead to fertilization problems. The present study aimed to evaluate the number, volume, and surface area of oocytes in healthy as well as nandrolone decanoate-treated (ND) mice using stereological methods. Five control mice received vehicle, and five ND-treated mice received ND. Using the 'isotropic Cavalieri' design', the ovary was sectioned. The volume of the ovary (cortex and medulla) was estimated. The oocytes' volume and surface area were estimated using the invariator. The number of the oocytes was estimated using an optical disector. The volumes of the ovary, cortex, and medulla decreased ~50% in the ND-treated mice. The mean number (coefficient of variation) of preantral, antral, and atretic oocytes in the control ovary were 1,690 (0.29), 2,100 (0.52), and 3,900 (0.2), respectively, which decreased ~54%, ~87%, and ~91%, respectively in the ND-treated animals. The mean volume (coefficient of variation) of the preantral, antral, and atretic oocytes were 86,000 (0.27), 110,000 (0.48), and 27,000 (0.33) mm 3 , respectively. The mean surface area (coefficient of variation) of the three types of oocytes were 9,000 (0.24), 9,900 (0.28), and 4,700 (0.21) mm 2 , respectively. These parameters remained unchanged in the ND-treated mice. ND induces reduction in the number of oocytes, but not in the volume or the surface area.

Evaluation of Iranian College Students’ Awareness about Infertility Risk Factors

“…These steroids inhibit reproductive hormones, reducing testis size and sperm production, ending in infertility problems (34)(35)(36). In females, anabolic hormone use can cause dysmenorrhea, anovulation, and infertility via inhibition of pituitary hormone secretion (37)(38)(39). abnormal sperm, resulting in infertility (40,41).…”

Effects of erythropoietin on ischemia, follicular survival, and ovarian function in ovarian grafts

“…By multiplying Nv by the total volume of the ovary, the total number of follicles was estimated (N total ZN V !V total ; Howard & Reed 1998, Soleimani Mehranjani et al 2010, Karbalay-Doust & Noorafshan 2012.…”

“…For this purpose, spherical modules filled with paraffin were chosen to embrace each ovary. These modules, rotated in a random manner, were serially cut into 5-and 20-mmthick sections, followed by systematic random sampling to select 8-12 sections from each ovary, which were, in turn, stained using the hematoxylin and eosin (Merck) method (Howard & Reed 1998, Soleimani Mehranjani et al 2010, Karbalay-Doust & Noorafshan 2012. After deparaffinization and rehydration, ovarian tissue structure was examined stereologically.…”

“…To measure the movement of the stage in the z-axis, a microcator (ND 221 B, Heidenhain, Traunreut, Germany) connected to a computer and a microscope was used. In each microscopic field, 5 mm from the top and bottom of the sections were ignored as a guard area against the cutting artifacts (Myers et al 2004, Soleimani Mehranjani et al 2010, Karbalay-Doust & Noorafshan 2012). An unbiased counting frame superimposed on the monitor was used to sample the nucleolus profiles of the oocytes.…”

“…In turn, volume density (Vv) was multiplied by the total volume of the ovary to estimate the volume of cortex and medulla (Howard & Reed 1998, Soleimani Mehranjani et al 2010, Karbalay-Doust & Noorafshan 2012.…”