HISTOCHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL-STUDIES ON ESTERASE-ACTIVITY IN THE RATOVARY

A correlative histochemical and biochemical study has been made of the changes in esterase positive sites in immature (10-, 20- and 30-days old), mature normal cycling (3-, 5- and 8-months-old), pregnant and la ctating rat ovaries. The typical perivascular esterase-positive sites localized in the hilar portion, branch along the blood vessels and tra verse into medullary and cortical portions of the ovary. The stromal v ascularity surrounding the normal developing follicles, corpora lutea, atretic follicles and interstitial gland tissue showed rich activity of this enzyme system. On semiquantitative basis the number, intensity and quantity of esterase-positive sites vary with the maturation and reproductive states of the rat. The administration of estradiol-17-bet a increased the fine perifollicular and theca externa perivascular est erase-positive sites, whereas atropine and reserpine affected severely both the large and fine meshwork of esterase-positive sites. Biochemi cal estimates of acetylcholine esterase activity endorse these histoch emical observations. The possible roles of AChE activity in varied ova rian functions are discussed.