Neurogenic involvement in follicular development and ovulation--a probability

A combination of histofluorescence and histochemical and ultrastructural methods revealed the architecture of adrenergic and acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-containing structures in pregnant and non-pregnant rat ovary. Besides vascular innervation, cholinergic and adrenergic nerves ran in paths contiguous to developing follicles and innervated the interstitial glands. The granulosa cells showed nonspecific AChE activity; however, there was a significant zone of specific AChE activity present in the thecal region. It is concluded that cyclic fluctuations of hormones influence variations in number, intensity, and staining density of neuronal elements. The specificity of catecholamine fluorescence was confirmed by lack of fluorescence on reserpinization.