The immunoexpression of valosin-containing protein and small VCP-interacting protein in rat ovaries

Numerous cellular processes are controlled by the ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated degradation pathway, involve the 97-kDa valosin-containing protein (p97/VCP). Small p97/VCP-interacting protein (SVIP) was first discovered as one of the novel androgen-responsive genes as well as one of the many cofactors controlling p97/VCP. The aim of the study was to investigate localization and immunoexpression of p97/VCP and SVIP in rat ovarian tissue. The histomorphological examination of rat ovarian tissue was performed by using haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Using the immunohistochemical technique, cellular location and expression of p97/VCP and SVIP in rat ovarian tissue were examined. The nuclear and cytoplasmic immunoexpression of p97/VCP and SVIP was observed in the different stages of ovarian follicles and corpus luteum in the rat ovaries. The immunolocalization of SVIP and VCP in the rat ovaries suggest that they may be involved in the oogenesis. Further studies should be performed about the function of the VCP and SVIP in the female reproductive tract.