孕激素对更年期雌性大鼠脾细胞凋亡及相关基因的调控作用

为了解孕激素对更年期雌性大鼠脾细胞凋亡及相关基因的调控作用。首先通过应用Annexin V-FITC/PI双染色流式细胞仪测定脾细胞凋亡率;通过RT-PCR检测脾细胞凋亡基因Bcl-2、Bax的表达;RIA法测血孕酮(P)水平。结果发现更年期组血孕激素水平明显低于青年组和孕激素组(P<0.01),孕激素组与青年组相比差别无显著意义(P>0.05);更年期组大鼠脾细胞凋亡率高于青年组(10.3%和7.7%,P<0.05),促凋亡基因Bax的转录水平也高于青年组;孕激素组脾细胞的凋亡率与更年期组比较无显著差异,孕激素组促凋亡的Bax基因转录水平高于更年期组大鼠(P<0.01),而Bcl-2基因未见显著差异。研究结果提示,衰老过程中脾淋巴细胞凋亡增加,并受到相关基因的调控,孕激素治疗未能逆转更年期雌性大鼠脾细胞凋亡的增加,且使更年期大鼠脾细胞促凋亡的Bax基因表达上调。

Effects of progesterone on apoptosis and apoptosis-associated gene expressions in splenocytes of menopausal rats

To inverstigate the effects of progesterone on apoptosis and apoptosis-associated gene expression in splenocytes of menopausal rats,Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry assay was used to detect the apoptosis in splenocytes of rats,and RT-PCR was employed to demonstrate the gene expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.Meanwhile,the serum level of progesterone was measured by radio-immunoassay(RIA).Our experimental results showed that the serum level of progesterone in menopausal group of animals was lower than those of the young and progesterone groups,yet there was no difference between these latter two groups.The percentage of the apoptotic cells in splenocytes of progesterone group was similar to that of the menopause group,but the expression of the Bax gene was higher than that of the menopausal rats.These results suggest that the increased ratio of apoptosis in splenocytes of the menopausal rats with aging would be regulated by apoptosis-associated genes,and the treatment with progesterone could not be to reverse the increase of apoptosis in splenocytes of menopausal rats,but could induce the up-regulation of the Bax gene expression.