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


METHODS
Descriptive, controlled study.


METHODS
Tohoku University School of Medicine.


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


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry for Mn-SOD and Cu,Zn-SOD.


METHODS
Immunostaining.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Suzuki
T
T
Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. t-suzuki@patholo2.med.tohoku.ac.jp
Sugino
N
N
Fukaya
T
T
Sugiyama
S
S
Uda
T
T
Takaya
R
R
Yajima
A
A
Sasano
H
H
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D013482:Superoxide Dismutase