Ultrastructure of the Rat Ovary Transplanted into the Spleen

Intrasplenic ovary autografts in bilaterally ovariectomized rats showed luteinization and progressive hyperplasia. Electron microscopically, 30–105 days after transplantation, the lutein cells were characterized by mitochondria of varying shapes and sizes with tubular cristae and dense matrices. The amount of SER was reduced whereas the RER was prominent. The latter change may reflect increased protein synthesis in the growing graft. The ultrastructural findings presented here provide further support to the assumption that endogenous gonadotrophins have a stimulating influence upon intrasplenic ovary autografts.