Obstetrics and Gynecology, Namik Kemal University, Faculty of Medicine, Tekirdag, Turkey.
Gynecol Endocrinol. 2012 Jun;28(6):463-7. doi: 10.3109/09513590.2011.633652. Epub 2012 Feb 17.
Apoptosis is necessary for the balance between cell proliferation and loss. Thirty-six Wistar-Albino rats were subjected to investigate apoptotic effect of widely used implantable progestins on ovarian and uterine tissues. Rats were divided into 6 groups. In the first five groups, we applied etonogestrel (IMP) subcutaneous implants (n = 30). The rats in groups were sacrificed sequentially every 10 days after application. The rats in the last group (n = 6) were accepted as controls. Apoptotic index (AI) values and Caspase-3 immunoreactivities of ovaries and uterus were recorded. In IMP groups, AI and Hscore values in stroma and glandular epithelium of uterus, granulosa and teca-lutein cells of the ovary increased with the longer progesterone exposure. Increase in AI and Hscore values were more prominent after 30 days of exposure for teca-lutein cells of ovary. Progestins increased apoptosis in ovaries and uterus by the longer exposure. Apoptosis increased in ovaries by chronic progesterone exposure. The apoptotic effect of progestin on endometrium is clear but long-term systemic application may lead to alterations in ovarian physiology. We evaluated time dependent apoptotic effect of etonogestrel on reproductive physiology and discussed progestins effect from another point of view in this study.
细胞增殖与凋亡的平衡对于细胞的存活至关重要。本研究旨在观察广泛应用的孕激素埋植剂对卵巢和子宫组织的凋亡作用。选用 36 只 Wistar 大鼠，随机分为 6 组，每组 6 只。除空白对照组外，其余 5 组均于背部皮下埋植依托孕烯（IMP）。分别于埋植后第 10、20、30、40、50 天处死动物取材，计算卵巢黄体细胞、卵巢间质细胞、子宫内膜腺体及间质的凋亡指数（AI）和 caspase-3 免疫组化评分。结果显示，随着孕激素暴露时间的延长，IMP 组大鼠子宫基质和腺体、卵巢颗粒细胞和卵泡膜黄体细胞的 AI 值和 caspase-3 免疫组化评分均逐渐升高，其中黄体细胞的 AI 值和 Hscore 在 30 天组与其他各组相比差异有统计学意义。孕激素可诱导卵巢和子宫发生凋亡，且随着暴露时间的延长，这种作用更加明显。慢性孕激素暴露可诱导卵巢发生凋亡。本研究通过观察依托孕烯对卵巢和子宫组织的时间依赖性凋亡作用，从另一个角度探讨孕激素对生殖系统的作用。
