الفهرس 
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Abstract
A total of twenty-one albino rats weighing between 150 and 180 grams were utilized for this research. Our results can be summarized as follows: Histomorphological studies of rat ovaries after taking NETA alone and NETA combined with TQ revealed clear signs of follicle and corpora lutea changes.
According to our study, the ovaries of the control group of rats contained several regressed corpora lutea, along with a variety of antral follicles of different sizes, including small and large ones, and a few growing follicles. On the other hand, the ovaries of the NETA-treated group revealed a notably higher number of newly formed corpora lutea, along with atretic small antral follicles in the ovarian cortex.Finally, the ovaries of the NETA-TQ-treated group showed a larger number of atretic antral follicles, as well as several regressed corpora lutea in the ovarian cortex.
The growing follicles in control group consist of an oocyte surrounded by granulosa cells and theca folliculi. In the NETA-treated and NETA-TQ-treated groups, there were signs of atresia, such as a loose granulosa layer,
deeply stained pyknotic nuclei, and apoptotic bodies in the granulosa layer.
The small antral follicles in the control group have small cavities filled with acidophilic fluid. The zona pellucida surrounding the oocyte in the small antral follicle is a uniform, acidophilic membrane, as observed in the H&E paraffin section. However, in the rat groups treated with NETA-alone and NETA-TQ, the small antral follicles show indications of atresia, represented by granulosa cell apoptosis with appearance of dead cells and apoptotic bodies.
When it came to the large antral follicles of the control group, we found they have a single large cavity. It is formed of the following layers from inside to outside: The oocyte and the acidophilic zona pellucida encircle the oocyte. The corona radiata is made up of columnar follicular cells arranged radially around the zona pellucida. The mural granulosa, a stratified epithelium lines the follicular cavity and connects with the ovum and its surrounding cells by cumulus oophorus cells. The granulosa cells are separated from the thecal tissue by a basement membrane layer. The theca folliculi that
surrounds the large antral follicles from the outside divides into two layers: The theca interna and the theca externa. However, in the NETA-treated group and the NETA-TQ- treated group, we observed that the large antral follicle displays signs of atresia; the granulosa cells become loosening, with several degenerated cells containing deeply stained pyknotic nuclei, along with apoptotic bodies. Furthermore, thinning of zona pellucida and some cavities developed in the oocyte, and the disorganization of corona radiata and the cumulus oophorous.
The interstitial gland cells of the control group are polygonal in shape and supported by thin connective tissue containing blood vessels. On the other hand, the interstitial gland cells of the NETA-treated and the NETA-TQ-treated group are separated by thick connective tissue. They show some remarkable changes including irregularities of the nuclear outline and condensation of heterochromatin.
The Newly formed corpora lutea of the control group and other treated groups consist of different types of cells: The large (granulosa) lutein cells which occupy the majority of the developing corpus luteum. Between the large lutein cells are present the small (theca) lutein cells. The corpus luteum also comprises blood vessels lining endothelial cells and fibroblast cells. The polyhedral large
lutein cells display rounded vesicular nuclei and contain numerous cytoplasmic lipid droplets, mitochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
The regressed corpus luteum of the control group is composed of large lutein cells with degenerating process and normal healthy small lutein cells. Autophagic and apoptotic kinds of programmed cell death are observed in the regressed corpora lutea. In the NETA-treated group, the same results are observed, but were more advanced than the control group. The NETA-TQ-treated group demonstrates advanced regression with disappearing of large lutein cells, which leave separated empty spaces or connected with one another.
Our findings give evidence that the ovaries in control group are morphologically in regression; they have few newly formed corpora lutea than regressed ones. While the ovaries in NETA-treated group show features of structural tissue formation; they have a higher number of newly formed corpora lutea. While the ovaries in NETA-TQ- treated group display signs of structural regression; they contain a higher number of regressed corpora lutea.
In the Crossman’s trichrome-stained sections and Picrosirius red staining sections, the control group showed normal collagen content around various antral follicles, as
well as in the tunica albuginea, and spread across the corpus luteum and interstitial gland cells. But in the NETA- treated group and the NETA-TQ-treated group, a remarkable increase in the ovarian collagenous content is differentiated.
Acridine orange staining of rat ovaries in the control group showed fluorescent green stained granulosa cells nuclei, and orange stained nuclei of large lutein cells of the regressed corpora lutea. In the atretic small and large antral follicles of NETA-treated group, granulosa cells nuclei are stained orange, and lutein cells nuclei of the newly formed corpus luteum are stained green. While in the NETA-TQ- treated group, granulosa cells nuclei of the atretic large antral follicle and the apoptotic lutein cells nuclei of the regressed corpus luteum are stained orange.
By the orcein staining method of elastic fibers, in the ovary of control group, blood capillaries are located in a regular pattern around the follicles and within corpora lutea. The NETA-treated group illustrates an increase in elastic fibers and blood vasculature, while the NETA-TQ- treated group displays the largest blood vasculature and orcein stained elastic tissue.
Mast cell tryptases are identified immunohistochemically in the rat ovaries of both the
control and treated groups. In the control group, mast cells were concentrated between the interstitial gland cells and near blood vessels. In the NETA-treated group, mast cells were moderately scattered between luteal cells of corpora lutea. In the NETA-TQ-treated group, degranulating mast cells are positively reacted to the immunostaining in the regressed corpora lutea.
The expression of PR receptors is moderate in the surface epithelial cells and oocytes of primordial follicles and in granulosa cells and theca cells of the growing and small antral follicles in the control group. Treatment with NETA decreased PR immunostaining in ovarian tissue, while NETA-TQ treatment results in a significant decrease in the positive density of PR expression in the ovarian tissue.
ERα expressions are moderate in oocytes and granulosa cells of primary and growing follicles in control group. While in ovaries of rats treated with NETA shows a decrease in ERα expression in ovarian tissue. But in NETA-TQ treated group a strong ERα staining in ovarian cells, including follicles, interstitial gland cells, and corpora luteal cells was observed.
Caspase-3 expression is generally weakly detected in the ovaries of the control group, but the regressed corpora lutea
in the control group revealed a moderate to strong immunoexpression reaction. NETA and NETA-TQ-treated groups display a significant increase in Caspase-3 immunoexpression in various ovarian cells, including some of the surface epithelial cells, oocytes, granulosa cells, thecal cells of different regressed follicles, and interstitial gland cells. In the NETA-TQ-treated group, there were strong reactions observed regarding Caspase-3 expression in the large lutein cells of the regressed corpus luteum.