Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine

The Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine (대한생식의학회)
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The Study on Apoptosis and Expression of Fas, Fas-ligand, Bax, and Bcl-2 in Human Fragmented Embryos

분절화된 인간 배아에서 세포자연사와 Fas, Fas-ligand, Bax, Bcl-2 발현에 관한 연구

  • Kim, Jong-Sik (Infertility Research Laboratory, Seoul Women's Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Myoung-Shin (Infertility Research Laboratory, Seoul Women's Hospital) ;
  • Yang, Hyun-Won (Department of OB/GYN, Eulji University School of Medicine) ;
  • Yu, Chai-Hyeock (Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Inha University) ;
  • Yoon, Yong-Dal (Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University) ;
  • Bae, In-Ha (Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Sungsin Women's University) ;
  • Jung, Byeong-Jun (Infertility Clinic, Seoul Women's Hospital) ;
  • Song, Hyun-Jin (Infertility Clinic, Seoul Women's Hospital)
  • 김종식 (서울여성병원 불임연구실) ;
  • 김명신 (서울여성병원 불임연구실) ;
  • 양현원 (을지대학교 의과대학 산부인과학교실) ;
  • 류재혁 (인하대학교 생물학과) ;
  • 윤용달 (한양대학교 생명과학과) ;
  • 배인하 (성신여자대학교 생명과학과) ;
  • 정병준 (서울여성병원 불임클리닉) ;
  • 송현진 (서울여성병원 불임클리닉)
  • Published : 2002.09.30
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Abstract

Objective : The present study was performed to investigate whether apoptosis occur in human embryos by annexin staining and detect the expression of Fas, Fas-ligand (FasL), Bax, and Bcl-2 in human fragmented embryos derived from IVF-ET by immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. Materials and Methods: Using annexin staining, immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis on normal and fragmented embryos, we were able to detect apoptotsis and apoptotic gene products in fragmented embryos. Result: Phosphatidylserine (PS) translocation, the marker for apoptosis, were detected frequently in fragmented embryos. Bcl-2 and Bax protein were detected in both fragmented and non-fragmented embryos. When fragmented embryos compared to normal embryos, immunofluorescent intensity of Bcl-2 tended to be lower in fragmented embryos. Bax gene expression increased in the fragmented embryos compared to the normal embryos. This result supports a model in which the molar ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax determines whether apoptosis induced or inhibited in human embryo. Fas was highly expressed in human preimplantation embryos but not FasL. It suggests that embryo may undergo apoptosis by binding with FasL produced by follicular or immune cells. Conclusion: The over expression of Bax and Fas will trigger apoptosis to lead embryo fragmentation and change embryo to be nonviable.

Keywords

References

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