生育年龄妇女早期卵泡细胞凋亡和Bcl-2/BAX蛋白表达

目的:研究生育年龄妇女早期卵泡的细胞凋亡和Bcl-2/BAX蛋白表达。方法:12例卵巢组织标本来自进行妇科手术的生育年龄妇女(年龄23-38岁),并经过组织病理学检查证实无明显形态异常。利用末端标记法(TUNEL)和免疫组织化学方法研究早期卵泡(包括始基卵泡、间期和初级卵泡)细胞凋亡和Bcl-2/BAX蛋白表达。结果:早期卵泡内18.75%卵细胞表现TUNEL阳性,但是卵泡内未见TUNEL阳性颗粒细胞。BAX在早期卵泡的卵细胞内表达,阳性表达率76.07%;相反未见Bcl-2在卵细胞表达。另外,早期卵泡内颗粒细胞也没有表达Bcl-2和BAX。结论:生育年龄妇女早期卵泡的卵细胞发生凋亡,促凋亡蛋白BAX在卵细胞凋亡过程中发挥调节作用,由此提示BAX介导的卵细胞凋亡可能是生育年龄妇女早期卵泡闭锁的机制。

Apoptosis and Bcl-2/Bax expression in the early follicles of reproductive women

AIM: To investigate the apoptosis and Bcl-2/Bax expression in the early follicles of women at reproductive age. METHODS: 12 ovarian specimens were collected from reproductive women (aged 23-38 years) undergoing gynaecological operation. Histopathological examination of these specimens was performed to confirm its' morphological normalities. Using TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling) assay and immunohistochemistry method, cell apoptosis and Bcl-2/Bax expression were examined in the early follicles including mainly primordial, intermediary and primary follicles. RESULTS: 18.75% of the oocytes were found TUNEL positive in the early follicles, but no granulosa cells in these follicles were found TUNEL positive. Bax expression was detected in 76.07% of the oocytes in the early follicles, but Bcl-2 expression was negative in these oocytes. In addition, Bcl-2/Bax expression were not present in the granulosa cells in early follicles. CONCLUSION: The oocyte apoptosis occurs in the early follicles of reproductive woman, and pro-apoptotic protein Bax may play a role in regulating this process. It suggests that Bax mediated oocyte apoptosis may be the molecular mechanism of the early follicle atresia in the ovaries of reproductive woman.