ABSTRACT
To investigate the apoptotic effect of free fatty acids (FFAs) on human ovary granulosa cells, the granulosa cells were treated with FFAs in various concentrations for three days, and then the cell viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion method. DNA fragmentation was examined by DNA ladder formation and Annexin V GFP/PI staining of the cells. We also determined if the apoptotic effect of saturated FFAs was mediated by their acly CoA metabolites and measured the expression of apoptosis related genes, Bcl 2 and Bax by Western blot. The results indicated that saturated FFAs induced apoptosis of granulosa cell by their acly CoA metabolites in a dose dependent manner, and led to the down regulation of Bcl 2 and the up regulation of Bax. It is concluded that saturated FFAs can induce apoptosis of human ovary granulosa cells, suggesting that the sexual disorder of obese and insulin resistant women is related to it.