Hypothyroidism Reduces the Size of Ovarian Follicles and Promotes Hypertrophy of Periovarian Fat with Infiltration of Macrophages in Adult Rabbits

Figure 4

Histological characteristics of periovarian adipocytes of control (a and d) and hypothyroid (b and e) females rabbits. (c) The cross-sectional area of adipocytes (CSA; control in open bars; ; hypothyroid in solid bars; ). The average CSA for all (overall), large, and small adipocytes was analyzed. Large adipocytes were considered ≥4000 μm². The presence of immune cells (polymorphonuclear cells; PMNC) around adipocytes was quantified (f). Data are mean ± SEM. . Immunoreactivity of macrophages to CD163 and CD68 markers was analyzed (g, h, and l). The epithelium (ep) of the pancreatic duct in rabbits was considered as a negative control for anti-CD68 (i). The lack of the primary antibody (j) and the immunohistochemistry antiperilipin A (white arrows per+) in periovarian adipocytes were considered as negative controls for the secondary antibodies anti-mouse and anti-goat, respectively. Bars: (a), (b), (d), (e), and (j)  μm; (g), (h), (i), and (k)  μm.