¹University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), Faculty of Biological sciences, Laboratory of Research on Arid Lands (LRZA), BP 32 El Alia, Bab Ezzouar, 16111, Algiers, ALGERIA
²University Blida 1, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, BP 270 Road of Soumaa Blida, ALGERIA
³University of Lyon, UMRS 449, General Biology, Reproduction and Comparative Development Catholic University of Lyon, EPHE/PSL, 10 Place of Archives, F-69288 Lyon Cedex 02, FRANCE DOI : 10.9775/kvfd.2018.20292 This study aims to highlight the cellular and molecular events of atresia in the Bedouin goat ovarian follicles. Ovaries collected from slaughterhouses during breeding and non-breeding seasons were submitted to morphological studies and immunolocalization of active caspase-3. The results showed that ovaries were heavier (P<0.05) during the breeding season. The atresia occurred at all stages of follicular development in breeding and non-breeding seasons. At the preantral stage, degeneration affected primarily oocyte and active caspase-3 immunoreactivity was detected in the oocyte with a few staining in follicular cells. At the antral stage, atresia affected in first the granulosa layer cells which were characterized by an abnormal indentation of nuclei and positive active caspase-3 immunolabeling. At the early stage of atresia, the granulosa cells exhibited a few pycnotic nuclei and lost their cellular integrity, by getting scattered; these cells were positive to active caspase-3. At the late stage, the scattered cells invaded the antral cavity and the dead cells were eliminated by phagocytic cells. The oocyte seemed to undertake a long process of atresia via an autophagic pathway and it was the last to die. Finally, the follicle was replaced by a collagen fiber forming a scar of atresia. In conclusion, important morphological changes occurred in atretic follicles mainly in antral stage by apoptosis via caspase-3 signaling pathway, in breeding and non-breeding seasons. Keywords : Atresia, Apoptosis, Active caspase-3, Breeding season, Non-breeding season, Bedouin goat