US EPA

7791548 

Journal Article 

Superoxide dismutase in normal cycling human ovaries: immunohistochemical localization and characterization 

Suzuki, T; Sugino, N; Fukaya, T; Sugiyama, S; Uda, T; Takaya, R; Yajima, A; Sasano, H 

1999 

Yes 

Fertility and Sterility
ISSN: 0015-0282
EISSN: 1556-5653 

72 

4 

720-726 

English 

10521117 

10.1016/S0015-0282(99)00332-5 

WOS:000082851200027 

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of manganese (Mn) and copper-zinc (Cu,Zn) superoxide dismutase (SOD) in normal cycling human ovaries throughout the menstrual cycle.

DESIGN: Descriptive, controlled study.

SETTING: Tohoku University School of Medicine.

PATIENT(S): Twenty-four normal cycling human ovaries were obtained from patients who underwent oophorectomy and hysterectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

INTERVENTION(S): Immunohistochemistry for Mn-SOD and Cu,Zn-SOD.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Immunostaining.

RESULT(S): In the follicular stage, Mn-SOD immunoreactivity was detected in granulosa and theca interna cells of steroid-producing follicles, that is, preantral, nondominant, dominant, and atretic follicles, whereas Cu,Zn-SOD was detected in theca interna cells of these follicles and in granulosa cells of dominant follicles. In the luteal stage, immunoreactivity for Mn-SOD and Cu,Zn-SOD was observed in both luteinized granulosa and theca cells of the functioning corpus luteum. In the early degenerating corpus luteum, both Mn-SOD and Cu,Zn-SOD were positive in steroid-producing luteinized theca cells. Mn-SOD immunoreactivity was also detected in nonsteroid-producing luteinized granulosa cells and macrophages.

CONCLUSION(S): Our results suggest that the expression of Mn-SOD and Cu,Zn-SOD closely correlates with steroidogenesis in the human ovary. In addition, Mn-SOD may play an important role in the process of luteal regression. 

Ad4-binding protein (Ad4BP); human ovary; immunohistochemistry; steroidogenesis; superoxide dismutase (SOD)