Cellular composition of the cyclic corpus luteum of the cow

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Abstract
The cellular composition of CL from 6 cows on .apprx. Day 12 of the estrous cycle, after synchronization with cloprostenol, was studied by ultrastructural morphometry. Point-count measurements of volume density (mean .+-. s.d.) showed that large luteal cells occupied 40.2 .+-. 7.0% of the luteal tissue, and small luteal cells 27.7 .+-. 6.3%. Of the total of 393.4 .+-. 52.0 .times. 103 cells per mm3 of luteal tissue, large luteal cells made up only 3.5% and small luteal cells 26.7%, a ratio of 1:7.6. Endothelial cells/pericytes, at 52.3%, were the most numerous cell type. The mean volume per large luteal cell was 29.6 .+-. 6.3 .times. 103 .mu.m3, while that of small luteal cells was 2.7 .+-. 0.4 .times. 103 .mu.m3. In spherical form, these volumes would represent mean diameters of 38.4 .mu.m and 17.2 .mu.m respectively, and are consistent with published measurements on dispersed luteal cells. However, the values for cell numbers are much higher than published values based on luteal tissue dispersion, suggesting that dispersion may result in substantial and possibly selective losses of luteal cells.