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. 2025 Jan 9;12(1):37.
doi: 10.3390/vetsci12010037.

Characterization of the Population of Ovarian Preantral Follicles in Juvenile Six-Banded Armadillos Infected or Not by Mycobacterium leprae

Gabriela L Lima  1 , Andreza V Brasil  2 , Andreia M Silva  2 , João Marcelo A de P Antunes  3 , Pierre Comizzoli  4 , Alexandre R Silva  2
Affiliations

Characterization of the Population of Ovarian Preantral Follicles in Juvenile Six-Banded Armadillos Infected or Not by Mycobacterium leprae

Gabriela L Lima et al. Vet Sci. .

Abstract

The objective of this study was to characterize and estimate the population of ovarian preantral follicles in juvenile six-banded armadillos. Pairs of ovaries from five armadillos were collected during a routine epidemiological survey of leprosis (three healthy and two infected females). Ovaries weighed approximately 0.06 kg, representing a gonadosomatic index of 6.9 ± 0.8%. The mean ovarian follicular population was 15,567.2 preantral follicles per ovarian pair. For most females, follicular population was mainly composed of primordial follicles. No major histological ovarian parameter was affected by M. leprae infection. All females presented high rates of follicular degeneration, regardless of M. leprae infection. In conclusion, we present original particularities regarding the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the ovarian population of juvenile six-banded armadillos.

Keywords: Edentata; Xenartrhra; leprosy; ovary; wildlife.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Macroscopic aspects of Euphractus sexcintus reproductive system (uterine body in the middle and ovaries on each side). Ovaries are round structures with smooth surfaces (white full arrows).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Histology of Euphractus sexcintus ovary with follicles at various stages of development. Primordial (arrows), primary (arrowhead) and secondary (full arrow) follicles. 400×.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Histological features in the juvenile six-banded armadillos (Euphractus sexcintus) preantral follicles. (a)—Primordial follicles (arrows) surrounded by a single layer of flattened granulosa cells. (b)—Primary follicles (full arrows) surrounded by a single layer of cuboidal granulosa cells, presenting some vacuoles at cytoplasm. (c)—Small secondary follicle showing two or more layers of cuboidal granulosa cells (n—nucleus, c—cytoplasm, gc—granulosa cells) and the presence of zona pellucida (white arrow). The theca cells were formed by elongated and fusiform cells (white arrowheads). (d)—multi-oocyte follicles (arrowheads). 400×.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Morphological normal follicles (arrows) exhibiting well-organized granulosa cells without pycnotic nuclei surrounding the oocyte. Degenerated follicles (full arrows) showing a retraced oocyte with a pycnotic nucleus, accompanied or not by disorganized granulosa cells. 400×.
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