Abstract

URIBE-VELASQUEZ, Luis Fernando; OSORIO, José Henry  and  CORREA-OROZCO, Adriana. CORPUS LUTEUM: AN INMUNOLOGICAL VIEW. Biosalud [online]. 2011, vol.10, n.2, pp.87-100. ISSN 1657-9550.

The aim of the present review is to describe the current concepts of the local mechanism for the cascade of development and regression of the corpus luteum (CL) as regulated by macrophages, immunological cells and cytokines. The cow CL is a dynamic organ which has a life time of approximately 17-18 days. The main function of the CL is to secrete a large amount of progesterone (P₄). As the CL matures, the steroidogenic cells establish contact with many capillaries and the matured CL is composed of many vascular endothelial cells that account for up to 50 % of all CL cells. In cattle and other species, the CL plays a central role in the regulation of cyclicity and maintenance of pregnancy. In many species, luteal regression is initiated by uterine release of PGF_2α, which inhibits steroidogenesis and may launch a cascade of events leading to the tissue final disappearance. Immune cells, primarily macrophages and T lymphocites are important for ingestion of cellular remnants that result from the death of luteal cells. Macrophages are multifunctional cells that play key roles in the immune response and are abundant throughout female reproductive tissues. Their specific localization and variations in distribution in the ovary during different stages of the cycle, suggest that macrophages play diverse roles in intra-ovarian events including folliculogenese, tissue restructuring at ovulation and CL formation and regression.

Keywords : estrous cycle; endothelin; tumor necrosis factor-α; macrophages; ovary; progesterone.

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