Korean J Fertil Steril.  2002 Sep;29(3):195-200.

The Immunologic Expression of Apoptosis Related Proteins and Apoptotic Cells in Human Ovarian Follicles

• Park SR
• Lee BS
• Yang WI
• Kim JH
• Park BJ
• Park KH
• Cho DJ
• Song CH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of apoptosis related proteins and apoptotic cells on the human ovarian follicles.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty five Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human ovarian tissue blocks were selected from the surgical pathology files of the department of pathology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, for the period from 1996 to 1998. All specimen were from premenopausal women aged from 32~45. Ovarian tissues were collected from the patients performing hysterectomy for benign uterine diseases. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for the detection of DNA fragmented cell, Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and Fas-ligand.
RESULTS
Bcl-2 and bax were not expressed on the surrounding cells and oocyte of the primary, primordial and preantral follicles. Fas and Fas-ligand (Fas-L) were not expressed on the surrounding cells on the primordial and primary follicles. But expressed on the surrounding granulosa cells and oocyte in the primordial and primary follicles. In the healthy follicles, Bcl-2 was expressed on the granulosa cells, however, Bax was not expressed. DNA fragmented cells were expressed on the inner granulosa cell layer of atretic follicles.
CONCLUSION
Fas, Fas-ligand, and Bax may be responsible for the follicular atresia and Bcl-2 may be involved in the follicular survival in the human ovary.

Keyword

Apoptosis; Bcl-2; Bax; Fas; Fas-ligand; Human ovary

MeSH Terms

Apoptosis*
DNA
Female
Follicular Atresia
Granulosa Cells
Humans*
Hysterectomy
Oocytes
Ovarian Follicle*
Ovary
Pathology
Pathology, Surgical
Uterine Diseases
DNA