Morphological and biochemical characterization of small and large bovine luteal cells during pregnancy

Small (15-18 microns) and large (18-45 microns) luteal cells were obtained from bovine corpora lutea of pregnancy by centrifugal elutriation of enzymatically dispersed luteal cells. Small luteal cells accounted for about 85% and large luteal cells for 8-12% of total luteal cell population. Small luteal cells were characterized by a low cytoplasmic/nuclear ratio with cytoplasm containing mitochondria, lysosomes, lipid droplets, dense granules and endoplasmic reticulum. Large luteal cells possessed a higher cytoplasmic/nuclear ratio with cytoplasm containing more abundant mitochondria, lipid droplets, dense granules and lysosomes compared to small luteal cells. Some of the mitochondria were very long. Both small and large luteal cells contained scarce amounts of Golgi elements. Dense granules were found close to the nucleus in both cell types. The nucleus of both cell types was acentric, irregular in shape and contained a well-defined nucleolus. The highly condensed chromatin in small luteal cells was found at the nuclear periphery and in the central region. Dispersed chromatin was found throughout the nucleus with condensed chromatin at the nuclear periphery of large luteal cells. Macrophages and fibroblasts were occasionally found in small luteal cell preparations, but their morphology was quite distinct from both small and large luteal cells. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the majority of the small and large luteal cells were spherical or slightly elongated in shape. Small luteal cells displayed the presence of blebs, ruffles and short microvilli. Large luteal cell surface contained ruffles and randomly distributed clusters of blebs of different sizes, predominantly spherical in shape with a smooth surface. Finger-like projections were also occasionally seen. Small luteal cells contained significantly lower amounts of protein, but the ratios between protein and DNA were similar in both cell types. The basal, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)- or cyclic AMP-stimulated progesterone production, the apparent dissociation constants for [125I]hCG binding and the apparent total number of available sites per cell were similar in small and large luteal cells. The activities of enzymes that are involved directly or indirectly in progesterone biosynthesis and those involved in general cellular metabolism and biosynthesis were also similar in small and large luteal cells with one exception. That is, the activities of 5'-nucleotidase and NADH cytochrome c reductase were significantly higher in small compared to large luteal cells.