ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the expression of embryonic/ pluripotent stem cell markers including Nanog, Octamer - Binding Protein [Oct 3/4] and c-Kit from the newborn to aging period in the ovary tissues of mouse. Design: Experimental study using mouse ovary tissues. The expression and localization of Nanog, Oct 3/4 and c-Kit expression were studied in newborn, pubertal, adult and aging ovary. Setting: Department of Histology and Embryology, Pamukkale University, School of Medicine, Turkey
Subjects: Newborn [n = 6], pubertal [38-day-old] [n = 6], adult [12-week-old] [n = 6] and aged [24-week-old] female Balb/c mice were used in this study. Intervention: No intervention Main Outcome Measure: The expression of Nanog, Oct 3/4 and c-kit was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase chain reaction [PCR]
Results: Nanog, Oct 3/4 and c-Kit expression were positive in oocytes of newborn, pubertal and adult ovary. But they were negative in granulosa cells in newborn groups. The expression of these markers in adult period was increased. In addition, positive reaction for Nanog, Oct 3/4 and c-Kit was observed in granulosa cells in secondary and tertiary follicles in pubertal and adult ovary. Ovarian surface epithelium were positive for all stem cells markers in adult and aged. In addition to that, only c-kit positive expression was found in theca cells
Conclusion: According to our findings, each of the three stem cell markers may play an important role in folliculogenesis and ovarian pathology. However, c-kit may be more effective than others because stromal cells were positive in adult and pubertal ovaries as well as in aged ovary
ABSTRACT
<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>The hippocampus is an important region of the brain that regulates cognitive and emotional functions. In this study, we examined the impact of perinatal administration of testosterone propionate (TP) on the number of pyramidal neurons in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampi of female rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five groups of rats were used in this study. Three groups of female rats were administered TP in either both the prenatal and the postnatal periods (Group 1), only the prenatal period (Group 2) or only the postnatal period (Group 3). The other two groups of rats included control females (Group 4) and control males (Group 5). The rats were sacrificed on postnatal Day 120 and their brains were analysed for hippocampal pyramidal neuron number using stereological methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Control male rats (Group 5; p = 0.043) and TP-treated female rats in Groups 1 (p = 0.012) and 2 (p = 0.037), but not Group 3 (p > 0.05), had a significantly higher number of pyramidal neurons than control female rats (Group 4). The rats in Group 1 had the highest number of pyramidal neurons among the female rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Perinatal TP treatment has an augmenting effect on the number of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampi of female rats. We also found gender-based differences in the hippocampi of male and female rats, with a higher number of pyramidal neurons seen in male rats. Continuous TP administration during the prenatal and postnatal periods is more effective than administration only in the prenatal or postnatal period.</p>