• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

Ovarian follicular atresia in mammals is finely regulated by gonadotropins and sex steroid hormones. It is well known that granulosa cell pyknosis is a common cytological feature of atretic follicles in the ovary. The present study hypothesized that granulosa cell pyknosis during follicular atresia might be related to apoptotic process and associated with caspase-3 activation. Healthy (normal) and atretic follicles were isolated from porcine ovaries based on macro-morphological criteria. Isolated follicles were either processed for histological observation or used for collection of granulosa cells by aspiration. Hoechst 33258 staining of the cells showed a significantly higher number of fragmented nuclei, a typical morphological feature of apoptotic cell, in granulosa cells from atretic follicles than those from healthy follicles. In addition, the rate of cell death was significantly higher in granulosa cells from atretic follicles than healthy follicles, as measured by flow-cytometric cell cycle analysis. In situ detection of apoptotic cells by TUNEL revealed that apoptosis was mostly restricted to granulosa cells in follicles. Theca cells were TUNEL-negative. Finally, it has been shown by caspase-3 activity assay that granulosa cells from atretic follicles retain a higher caspase-3 activity compared to healthy follicles. Taken together, it is suggested that granulosa cell degeneration during folliclar atresia occurs by caspase-3-dependent apoptotic fashion.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.523-529
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• 2015

Objectives: Oropharynx tumors(oral cancer), are caused by tobacco, alcohol consumption, and high-risk human papillomavirus(HPV) infection. Oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC) is the most common type of oral cancer and frequently arises from the mucosa of the oropharynx and oral cavity. Despite advances in the diagnosis and treatment(chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery) of oral cancer, over the past two decades, the overall survival rates remains at about 60%. Methods: We pretreated HSC-2 cells with various doses of exposed the cells to eugenol and then we measured cell viability by MTT assay. Results: Cell proliferation was markedly inhibited after eugenol treatment compared to the control. The majority of HSC-2 cells in the control groups showed normal morphology with round regular nuclei. In contrast, apoptotic bodies were seen in the 0.5 mM, 1 mM, 2 mM group. However, the pretreatment with eugenol increased HSC-2 cells apoptosis according to dose-dependency. PI staining quantitatively confirmed the anti-apoptotic effects of propofol. The expression levels of cleaved caspase 3, and Bak significantly increased in HSC-2 cells. Conclusions: These findings indicate that eugenol could be a potential anti-cancer agent for human OSCC and provide valuable data for the development of a novel anticancer strategy.