Histopathological and histochemical studies of the ovary and uterus of the female dog after ligation of the supplying arteries

The present study was undertaken to study the histopathological and histochemical studies of the ovary and uterus of female dog after ligation of the supplying arteries. Twelve adult female dogs were divided into three groups. Unilateral ligation of the internal iliac, uterine and ovarian arteries was done in group I, II and III, respectively. All animals were sacrificed one month after the operation. Samples were taken from the ovaries and uterine horns of both the ligated and nonligated sides for histological and histochemical studies. Unilateral ligationof either internal iliac, uterine or ovarian arteries was followed by histopathological changes in the uterine horns of both sides. However, the degenerative changes were more marked at the horns of the ligated sides. The endometrial glands of both uterine horns showed negative PAS and alkaline phosphatase activies after unilateral ligation of the internal iliac or uterine arteries. However, after ligation of the ovarian artery, the endometrial glands of the ligated side showed weak PAS reaction and moderate alkaline phosphatase activity. Those of the contralateral side showed a strong activity. Concerning the ovary, unilateral ligationof the internal iliac or uterine arteries was followed by marked degenerative changes in the ipsilateral ovary and the contralateral ovary was normal in appearance. However, ligationof the ovarian artery was followed by atrophic changes in the ovary of the ligated side. That of the contralateral side showed compensatory hypertrophy of the graafian follicles. Ligation of the internal iliac or uterine arteries was followed by strong activity of the alkaline phosphatase enzyme in the growing follicles and corpus lutii of both ipsilateral and contralateral ovaries. There was also a strong activity of the alkaline phosphatase in the hypertrophied follicles of the contralateral ovary following ligation of the ovarian artery