Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF ) Freely available
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (9)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Durlinger, A. L.L.
Right arrow Articles by Themmen, A. P.N.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Durlinger, A. L.L.
Right arrow Articles by Themmen, A. P.N.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Human Reproduction, Vol. 15, No. 12, 2504-2511, December 2000
© 2000 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Apoptotic and proliferative changes during induced atresia of pre-ovulatory follicles in the rat

Alexandra L.L. Durlinger1, Piet Kramer, Bas Karels, J.Anton Grootegoed, Jan Th.J. Uilenbroek and Axel P.N. Themmen

Department of Endocrinology and Reproduction, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Atresia, a degenerative process through which many follicles are removed from the growing pool, involves apoptotic changes in the follicular granulosa cells. To identify histochemical markers of early stages of atresia, an in-vivo rat model was used which allowed the study of atresia of pre-ovulatory follicles in a synchronized and chronological order. By blocking the pre-ovulatory luteinizing hormone surge with a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist, ovulation of the pre-ovulatory follicles is prevented, after which these follicles became atretic. The first morphological sign of atresia (pyknotic granulosa cell nuclei) was found 27 h after injection of GnRH antagonist. Since the pre-ovulatory follicles gradually become atretic in a synchronous fashion, this model provided an opportunity to study and define markers of future atresia in pre-ovulatory follicles. Atresia involves apoptosis of granulosa cells, and therefore internucleosomal DNA fragmentation was examined. Using the terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay it was found that the first sign of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in granulosa cells of pre-ovulatory follicles was detectable 24 h after GnRH antagonist treatment. In order to find an upstream marker of atresia, the 5-bromo-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labelling index was used as a measure of proliferation. Already at 14 h after GnRH antagonist treatment, when morphological signs of atresia were not yet present, a clear decrease in BrdU labelling index was found in the granulosa cells.

Key words: atresia/5-bromo-deoxyuridine/DNA fragmentation/ovary

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Endocrinology and Reproduction, Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O.Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: durlinger{at}endov.fgg.eur.nl


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
F. H. Thomas, E. E. Telfer, and H. M. Fraser
Expression of Anti-Mullerian Hormone Protein during Early Follicular Development in the Primate Ovary in Vivo Is Influenced by Suppression of Gonadotropin Secretion and Inhibition of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
Endocrinology, May 1, 2007; 148(5): 2273 - 2281.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J EndocrinolHome page
P D Taylor, S G Hillier, and H M Fraser
Effects of GnRH antagonist treatment on follicular development and angiogenesis in the primate ovary
J. Endocrinol., October 1, 2004; 183(1): 1 - 17.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
C. Wulff, H. Wilson, S. J. Wiegand, J. S. Rudge, and H. M. Fraser
Prevention of Thecal Angiogenesis, Antral Follicular Growth, and Ovulation in the Primate by Treatment with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Trap R1R2
Endocrinology, July 1, 2002; 143(7): 2797 - 2807.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.