Connie Tinoco

Biology Lab
Evelyn Galvez
04/11/15

Summary of Research Paper

Title: Lectin-Binding pattern in ovarian Structures of Rats with Experimental Polycystic ovaries
Authors: CG Barbeito, HH Ortega, V Matiller, EJ Gimento, and NR Salvetti
The main focus of this paper was to understand the progressive stages of how a female
obtains polycystic ovaries by experimenting on female rats. The authors explains how there have
been many experimental models of PO developed on rats but none have reproduced faithfully.
Meaning that these experiments do not show the actual progressive stages that happen in the real
syndrome of rats so they cant test them accurately to later cure humans of the syndrome. All of
the methods were tampered in a way (i.e. unnatural inducement of hormones) that rapidly show
polycystic results and are ineffective to show the progressive stages of this disease. Furthermore,
not only are the models unrealistic but because of such unnatural progression the team was
unable to study what hormones effect an affected ovary and where the areas of defection begins.
Their method to induce PO gradually in rats to see the progressive stages was to expose
them to constant light. The tested group of rats were placed in an environment with constant
illumination. This provides a more gradual atmosphere to study what hormones may have an
effect in the ovaries at the beginning, middle, and ending stages.
Fifteen animals displaying two normal 5 day oestrous cycles before the experiment were
divided into two groups. Ten were involved in the continuous light group where the light cycle
was 24 hours. A control group of five remained in normal light-dark conditions

They used Wistar female rates (16 weeks old). Before the experiment- animals kept in
controlled cycle of light and darkness (lights were on from 8:00 h to 20:00 h) and kept in a
temperature of 18-22 degrees Celsius. All animals had healthy rations of water and food
throughout the experiment. The lighting material came from a generous donation by GE, they
gave the team 4 cool white 40 W fluorescent tubes to obtain intensity of 350 lx to 1 m from the
floor.
The team found a lectin-binding pattern comparing the ovaries of the sacrificed
experimental and controlled group of rats ovaries. Via tissue sampling, the team evaluated the
following structures: granulosa, theca interna, ZP and oocyte in both groups. In the control
group, the cycle of tissue growth was normal. Different findings were uncovered with the
experimental group. They found evidence of atresia (closed passage)- evidence of tissue building
up. Why did this happen?
Minor disturbances to the making of the extracellular matrix leads to catastrophic results
of ovarian function. These minor disturbances are produced in a molecular level. The zona
pellucida (ZP) is a specialized extracellular matrix surrounding the developing oocyte (egg,
ovum) within each follicle within the ovary. This thick matrix is thought to be formed by
secretions from the oocyte and the follicle granulosa cells and in human oocytes consists of four
types of zona pellucida glycoproteins ZP1, ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4 which have different roles in
fertilization. (These glycoproteins are homologous among species, meaning they are involved in
same structure but make be involved in a different function.) The effect light disturbing the
making of ZP is one reason for the buildup of tissue in the ovaries thus creating cysts.

Research Citation
Barbeito CG, Ortega HH, Matiller V, Gimeno EJ, Salvetti NR. Lectin-binding pattern in
ovarian structures of rats with experimental polycystic ovaries. Reprod Domest Anim. 2013
Oct;48(5):850-7. doi: 10.1111/rda.12174.