title: Fas, FasL, Bcl-2, and Bax in the endometrium of rhesus monkey during the menstrual cycle.
abstract: To study possible role and regulation of apoptosis occurred in primate endometrium, the expression of apoptosis-related molecules, Fas, FasL, B cell lymphoma/leukaemia-2 (Bcl-2), and Bax were analyzed in relation to occurrence of apoptosis and proliferation in the cycling endometrium of the rhesus monkey using immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The cell apoptosis and proliferation were evaluated by means of in situ 3'-end labeling and Ki67 immunostaining, respectively. The results showed that the expressions of Fas, Fas ligand (FasL), Bcl-2, and Bax were co-localized predominantly in the epithelial cells of the endometrium. Modest Fas staining with no obvious change was detected throughout the menstrual cycle, while the levels of FasL and Bax protein in the epithelial cells increased in the secretory phase when apoptosis was most prevalent. In contrast, epithelial immunostaining for Bcl-2 was maximal during the proliferative phase and decreased in the secretory phase. Bcl-2 immunoreactivity was also detected in some immunocytes. The coordinated expression of Fas, FasL, Bcl-2, and Bax in the cycling endometrium of the rhesus monkey suggests that the cyclic changes in endometrial growth and regression may be regulated by the balance of these factors under the action of ovary steroids.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Shi-Xin
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Chun-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yi-Xun
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein