title: Effects of resveratrol on proliferation and apoptosis in rat ovarian theca-interstitial cells.
abstract: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by ovarian dysfunction and associated with ovarian theca-interstitial (T-I) cell hyperplasia, hyperinsulinemia, systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. This in vitro study tested whether rat T-I cell growth with or without insulin can be altered by resveratrol, a natural polyphenol with anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and antioxidant properties. Rat T-I cells were cultured with and without resveratrol and/or insulin, and the effects on DNA synthesis, number of viable cells and markers of apoptosis were evaluated. Resveratrol alone induced a potent concentration-dependent inhibition of cell growth by inhibiting DNA synthesis, decreasing the number of viable cells and increasing the activity of executioner caspases 3 and 7; these effects of resveratrol counteracted the pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects of insulin. Immunofluorescence analysis of cells incubated with resveratrol showed concentration- and time-dependent morphological changes consistent with apoptosis. The present findings indicate that resveratrol promotes apoptosis to reduce rat T-I cell growth in vitro as well as inhibiting insulin-induced rat T-I cell growth. This suggests a possibility that resveratrol and/or mechanisms mediating its effect may be relevant to the development of novel treatments for PCOS, which is characterized by both excessive ovarian mesenchyma growth and hyperinsulinemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 4860 Y Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
authors.forename: Donna H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Jesus A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Villanueva
authors.forename: Amanda B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Cress
authors.forename: Antoni J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Duleba
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D051381:Rats; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D013267:Stilbenes; D020169:Caspases; D000077185:Resveratrol