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DOES ELASTIN CONTRIBUTE TO THE PERSISTENCE OF CORPORA ALBICANTIA IN THE OVARY OF THE COMMON DOLPHIN (DELPHINUS DELPHIS) |
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| Authors: | Yuko Takahashi Shyuichi Ohwada Kouichi Watanabe Yan Ropert-Coudert † Ryoko Zenitani ‡ Yasuhiko Naito § Takahiro Yamaguchi &#; |
| Institution: | Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutsumidoriamamiya-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 981-8555, Japan; National Institute of Polar Research, 1-9-10 Kaga, Itabashi-ku Tokyo 173-8515, Japan; The Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5 Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan; National Institute of Polar Research, 1-9-10 Kaga, Itabashi-ku Tokyo 173-8515, Japan; Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutsumidoriamamiya-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 981-8555, Japan E-mail: |
| Abstract: | The corpora albicantia (CAs) from the ovaries of 39 common dolphins ( Delphinus delphis ) caught in driving fisheries were used, and histologically and immunohistochemically examined. The area of each corpus albicans (CA) and the proportion of that area occupied by elastin were measured using NIH-image software. In all CAs, elastoid material (EM) was apparent although EM area varied in each CA. CAs increased in number with dolphin age. Smaller CAs contained a higher proportion of EM. EM was completely digested by elastase, but not by collagenase. Furthermore, EM was immunostained with anti-α-elastin antibody. These results demonstrated that EM was elastin. The present study is the first to describe the presence of elastin in cetacean CAs. The higher proportion of elastin in small-sized CAs of common dolphins is suggested as the likely cause of the persistence of CA. |
| Keywords: | corpora albicantia ovary elastin histochemisrty common dolphin Delphinus delphis |