IMBECU   20882
INSTITUTO DE MEDICINA Y BIOLOGIA EXPERIMENTAL DE CUYO
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
INHIBITION OF APOPTOSIS INDUCED BY ALLOPREGNANOLONE IN THE RAT CORPUS LUTEUM.
Autor/es:
LACONI MYRIAM; CABRERA RICARDO
Lugar:
Kailua Kona, Hawaii
Reunión:
Congreso; First World Congress on Reproductive Biology; 2008
Resumen:
We report the effect of allopregnanolone (3á-hydroxy-5á-pregnan-20-one), one of the best characterized neurosteroids, on the ovulation rate and the corpus luteum histology associated to morphological feature of apoptotic cell death in cycling rats. Allopregnanolone (ALLO) was injected intracerebroventriculary (i.c.v.) during proestrus. The luteinizing hormone (LH) and progesterone (Pg) serum levels, the ovulation test and the histological analysis were performed in the estrum morning. The ALLO injection significantly decreases LH serum level (p<0,001) and the number of oocytes collected on estrus (p<0002). Simultaneously, an inhibition of apoptotic figures was detected in the already formed corpora lutea belonging to the previous ovary cycle. When the GABAA antagonist, (Bi) was i.c.v. injected alone or together with ALLO any effect on the ovulation rate occurred, but the LH level or the apoptotic cell number were recovered. Paraffin sections of the corpora lutea and hematoxilin - eosin stain were used to detect apoptotic cells. To confirm that the cell dead was due to apoptosis some paraffin sections were processed for the TUNEL assay, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (Dead End colorimetric TUNEL system, Promega). Corpora lutea were also processed for electron microscopy to study the ultrastructural features of the apoptotic cells. Under light microscopy apoptotic cells were characterized by their nuclear pyknotic appearance, marginated chromatin and by the presence of multiple densely stained apoptotic bodies. Ultrastructurally, the luteal cells undergoing apoptosis exhibits their cytoplasm organization heavily deteriorated due to organelle swelling and fragmentation, mainly of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The nuclei, in an initial step of regression, displayed chromatin condensation and a prominent perinuclear space. In a more advanced step of degeneration, it evidences large irregular clusters of condensed chromatin and finally, fragmentation and formation of apoptotic bodies. In conclusion, the present results indicate that i.c.v. injected ALLO inhibits apoptosis, in the corpus luteum and this action was blocked by Bi.