Apoptosis induced by droloxifene and C-myc, Bax, Bcl-2 protein expression in corpus luteum of pregnant rats
Abstract
Aim: To investigate the effects of droloxifene on apoptosis of luteal cells in pregnant rats, and analyze the possible relationships between the expression of C-myc, Bax, Bcl-2 protein in corpus luteum and apoptosis of luteal cells induced by droloxifene.
Methods: Pregnant rats were treated orally with droloxifene 20 mg . kg-1 on d 2. Ovaries were collected on d 4 or d 8 for detecting the apoptosis of luteal cells by hematoxylin-eosin staining and terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL), and observing the expression of C-myc, Bax, Bcl-2 protein in corpus luteum by immunohistochemistry. The ovarian fresh weight, protein contents, and serum progesterone levels were also determined on d 4 and d 8.
Results: Apoptotic luteal cells appeared on d 4 and more apoptotic cells could be observed on d 8 in droloxifene treated rats. The ovarian fresh weight, protein contents, and serum progesterone concentration were found to be decreased significantly on d 8 as compared to the control group. In corpus luteum of droloxifene treated rats, the increased expression of C-myc and Bax protein could be observed on d 4 and d 8, respectively, whereas no obvious changes could be found in the expression of Bcl-2 protein.
Conclusion: Droloxifene could induce apoptosis of luteal cells of preimplantation in pregnant rats. An increased expression of C-myc protein and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio could be induced by droloxifene, which might be associated with the mechanisms of apoptosis of luteal cells induced by droloxifene.
Keywords:
Methods: Pregnant rats were treated orally with droloxifene 20 mg . kg-1 on d 2. Ovaries were collected on d 4 or d 8 for detecting the apoptosis of luteal cells by hematoxylin-eosin staining and terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL), and observing the expression of C-myc, Bax, Bcl-2 protein in corpus luteum by immunohistochemistry. The ovarian fresh weight, protein contents, and serum progesterone levels were also determined on d 4 and d 8.
Results: Apoptotic luteal cells appeared on d 4 and more apoptotic cells could be observed on d 8 in droloxifene treated rats. The ovarian fresh weight, protein contents, and serum progesterone concentration were found to be decreased significantly on d 8 as compared to the control group. In corpus luteum of droloxifene treated rats, the increased expression of C-myc and Bax protein could be observed on d 4 and d 8, respectively, whereas no obvious changes could be found in the expression of Bcl-2 protein.
Conclusion: Droloxifene could induce apoptosis of luteal cells of preimplantation in pregnant rats. An increased expression of C-myc protein and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio could be induced by droloxifene, which might be associated with the mechanisms of apoptosis of luteal cells induced by droloxifene.