title: Decreased retinoblastoma protein expression in gamma-irradiated mouse ovarian follicles.
abstract: We immunohistochemically examined the effect of gamma-radiation on immature mouse ovarian follicles. Mice were Jirradiated with a dose of LD80 (8.3 Gy) in KAERI. At 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 1 d, 2 d, 4 d and 8 d postirradiation, the ovaries were excised and fixed in neutral buffered formalin. We performed immunohistochemistry for protein retinoblastoma (pRb), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) and routine hematoxylin-eosin staining in the largest cross sections. Radiation-induced follicular degeneration increased before 6 h, and most irradiated ovarian follicles became acutely atretic. The immunohistochemical staining for pRb was strong in the nuclei of granulosa cells of normal follicles and weak in atretic ones which were, conversely, strong for TUNEL staining. It was shown that pRb expression became lower with the degeneration of the ovarian follicles, which was inhibited by gamma-radiation. In the present study, pRb immunohistochemistry was proven to be a useful tool for the identification of follicular status.
authors.affiliation: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Taejon, Korea.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005496:Follicular Atresia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D005720:Gamma Rays; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000528:radiation effects; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
chemical_list: D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein