Immunohistochemical identification of the follicle thin layer structure and follicle stimulating hormone receptors (FSHR), estrogen receptors (ER), and progesterone receptors (PR) to investigate the changes of rat ovaries in ageing.

Immunohistochemical identification of the follicle thin layer structure and follicle stimulating hormone receptors (FSHR), estrogen receptors (ER), and progesterone receptors (PR) to investigate the changes of rat ovaries in ageing was the aim of this studyLive material consisted of female rats in five age groups as 22 days (young), 4 weeks (prepubertal), 10 weeks (adult), 8 months (premenopausal) and 2 years (old) of ages. Light microscope used for to evaluate the immunohistochemical results. Also structural changes due to aging were evaluated in electron microscope levelsDiminishing of ER holding and increasing of PR holding with ageing and also presence of PR in zona pellucida in all age groups were investigated by immunohistochemical methodsFSHR immune reactivity in granulose cells diminished starting from puberty and increased in teka interna at the same time. In premenopause stage it is observed that FSHR holding diminished in teka interna cellsWhen the thin structural changes evaluated, it is observed that number of annular lamellas and balbiani particles diminished by ageing. During the early stages of development zona pellucida was in a uniform thickness but it appeared to be floppy during the menopauseSteroid hormones known to be regulatory during the ovarian follicle development showed their effects by their receptors which we have showed their presence. Thin structural degenerations during the age increase made negative effects on the distributions of the receptors in the age group we have investigated.