Morphological-metric, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical effects of gossypol on cultured granulosa cells and oocytes of ewes using MOEPF

Manipulation of oocytes enclosed in preantral follicles (MOEPF) allows for analyzing follicular development and use of this biotechnology in the pre-analysis of the beneficial or toxic effects of bio-products on granulosa cells and oocytes at different developmental stages. In this study, there was evaluation of the effects of gossypol by culturing granulosa cells and oocytes in ewe ovarian tissues. Ovarian tissues were cultured with gossypol at 37 °C, in humidified air and 5% CO2. Variables that were evaluated were morphology, morphometry, ultrastructure and abundance of estradiol receptor α (α-ER). There were no differences in developmental characteristics when there was treatment with any of the gossypol doses that were evaluated. Immunostaining indicated that when the gossypol dose increases, the abundance of α-ER also increases in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and granulosa cells. Findings with the ultrastructural analysis indicated that for granulosa cells there was fewer cells and greater disorganization and a lack of structural integrity of follicular cell layers as a result of all gossypol treatments. The culture of oocytes in preantral ovarian follicles in presence of gossypol did not affect the morphological-metric structure at the doses evaluated. The findings with evaluation of ultrastructural and immunohistochemical structures indicated granulosa cells and α-ER were affected by the treatments with gossypol indicating there were effects of this compound on ovarian function in sheep. This study indicated there is a toxic action of gossypol when using the biotechnology, MOEPF. Thus, gossypol negatively affects granulosa cell development and structural integrity of preantral follicles in sheep.