Evaluation of Telocytes in the Ovary, Oviduct and Uterus of Kyrgyz Mares According to Pregnancy Status

Abstract

In the current study, we aimed to determine the distribution of telocytes in the ovary, oviduct and uterus of Kyrgyz mares depending on whether they were pregnant. We also studied the progression during the first 6 months of pregnancy. To this end, ovary, oviduct and uterus tissues from 53 Kyrgyz mares were obtained post-mortem. The mare tissue samples were divided into two groups: pregnant (n = 43) and non-pregnant (n = 10). Telocyte levels in the tissues were determined using light microscopic and immunohistochemical methods. Subsequently, the data acquired were evaluated based on whether the mare was pregnant, and if so, the month of pregnancy was also taken into account. After the study, we found a higher number of telocytes in the myometrium (5.69 +/- 0.90, p < 0.001) and oviduct propria (0.14 +/- 0.05, p < 0.006) of pregnant mares. We also noted an increased number of telocytes in the oviduct propria (0.04 +/- 0.02, p < 0.03) of mares 4 months into the pregnancy, and in the muscle layer (1.62 +/- 0.57, p < 0.01), myometrium (4.83 +/- 0.78, p < 0.03) and ovarian stroma (0.14 +/- 0.06, p < 0.04) of mares 6 months into pregnancy. In conclusion, we observed an increase in telocytes in the ovaries, oviducts and uterus of Kyrgyz mares during pregnancy, with this increase becoming more marked towards the sixth month of gestation. Therefore, additional research on the role of telocytes in pregnancy may prove beneficial.