BAX is involved in regulating follicular growth, but is dispensable for follicle atresia in adult mouse ovaries

Mammalian females are endowed with a finite number of primordial follicles at birth or shortly thereafter. Immediately following the formation of the primordial follicle pool, cohorts of these follicles are recruited to begin growth, and this recruitment continues until the primordial follicle population is depleted. Once recruited, a follicle will either grow and ovulate or undergo atresia. Follicle atresia results from the apoptotic death of follicular cells. Members of the BCL-2 family of proteins are important regulators of apoptosis in most cells including in the ovary. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the proapoptotic BAX is an important regulator of follicle survival. We used a variety of histological and biochemical techniques to investigate the impact ofBaxdeletion on follicle growth and death. We observed that theBaxdeletion results in delayed vaginal opening and altered follicular growth. Young adultBax-deficient ovaries contained increased numbers of primordial follicles and a trend towards reduced numbers of growing follicles.Baxdeficiency led to a reduction in average litter size, and also a reduction in the number of oocytes ovulated in response to exogenous gonadotropins. In contrast,Baxdeficiency did not alter follicle atresia. In conclusion, BAX appears to be an important regulator of follicle growth, but is dispensable for follicle atresia in mice.

Destruction of primordial ovarian follicles in adult cynomolgus macaques after exposure to 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide: a nonhuman primate model of the menopausal transition

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD)-treated mouse menopause model, which involves accelerated atresia of primordial follicles and induces gradual ovarian failure (while sparing the ovarian stroma), can be adapted to nonhuman primates.

DESIGN

Controlled periclinical trial (nonhuman primates).

SETTING

Comparative Medicine Clinical Research Center.

ANIMAL(S)

Four adult female cynomolgus monkeys.

INTERVENTION(S)

Once-daily i.m. injections for 15 days as follows: vehicle or VCD doses of 80 mg/kg, 160 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg. Ovaries were removed 27 days after treatment, and pathological determinations were made at necropsy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Baseline and interim hematologic and biochemical measures, physical exams, and body weights. Follicle counts and organ evaluation at necropsy.

RESULT(S)

A nearly complete elimination of primordial, intermediate, primary and secondary follicles was achieved with 250 mg/kg VCD. A 50% reduction in primordial and primary follicles was observed with 160 mg/kg VCD. No effect of 80 mg/kg VCD per day was observed. Clinical health measures remained within normal range except for transient, mild increases in liver enzymes and an inflammatory response at the injection site with 250 mg/kg. Postmortem evaluations (9 months) revealed no gross or histological lesions in the organs studied.

CONCLUSION(S)

These results demonstrate that the monkey ovary is susceptible to VCD and that as in rodents, primordial and primary follicles are targeted selectively.

Effect of bcl-2 overexpression in mice on ovotoxicity caused by 4-vinylcyclohexene

The occupational chemical 4-vinylcyclohexene (VCH) destroys small preantral ovarian follicles in mice following repeated daily dosing. The cell survival gene bcl-2 is thought to protect against follicular death during embryogenesis because primordial follicle numbers in newborn bcl-2 overexpressing (OE) mice are greater than in wild-type (WT) controls. Thus, this study was designed to determine if overexpression of bcl-2 protects against VCH-induced follicle loss during embryonic development. Pregnant bcl-2 OE or WT mice were dosed (p.o.) daily with VCH (500 mg/kg) or sesame oil (vehicle control) on days 8-18 of pregnancy. Ovaries were collected from moms and female pups on pup postnatal day (PND) 8. Nonpregnant OE and WT females were also treated with VCH (500 mg/kg p.o.) or vehicle and evaluated in the same manner. As previously reported, ovaries from PND8 OE female pups contained 50% more primordial follicles than WT pups (P < 0.05). Unlike WT pups, relative to vehicle controls, in utero exposure to VCH resulted in a reduction in primordial (25% of control), primary (38% of control), and secondary (33% of control) follicles in ovaries of OE pups (P < 0.05). VCH had no significant effect on follicle numbers in OE or WT moms. Conversely, in nonpregnant adults, VCH did not affect WT mice but caused loss of primordial (55% of control), primary (51% of control), and secondary (69% of control) follicles in OE mice (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that bcl-2 overexpression does not protect against, but instead increases susceptibility to VCH-induced follicle loss in transplacentally exposed or in nonpregnant mice.

Dual modality imaging of a novel rat model of ovarian carcinogenesis

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women, in part because of the limited knowledge about early stage disease. We develop a novel rat model of ovarian cancer and perform a pilot study to examine the harvested ovaries with complementary optical imaging modalities. Rats are exposed to repeated daily dosing (20 days) with 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) to cause early ovarian failure (model for postmenopause), and ovaries are directly exposed to 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) to cause abnormal ovarian proliferation and neoplasia. Harvested ovaries are examined with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and light-induced fluorescence (LIF) at one, three, and five months post-DMBA treatment. VCD causes complete ovarian follicle depletion within 8 months after onset of dosing. DMBA induces abnormal size, cysts, and neoplastic changes. OCT successfully visualizes normal and abnormal structures (e.g., cysts, bursa, follicular remnant degeneration) and the LIF spectra show statistically significant changes in the ratio of average emission intensity at 390:450 nm between VCD-treated ovaries and both normal cycling and neoplastic DMBA-treated ovaries. Overall, this pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of both the novel animal model for ovarian cancer and the ability of optical imaging techniques to visualize ovarian function and health.

Effect of duration of dosing on onset of ovarian failure in a chemical-induced mouse model of perimenopause

OBJECTIVE

Repeated daily dosing with 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) causes gradual ovarian failure in mice. As a result, the animal undergoes ovarian failure, but retains residual ovarian tissue. The purpose of this study was to use a mouse model to regulate the induction of a period analogous to perimenopause in women.

DESIGN

Female B6C3F1 mice (28 days old; n = 8) were dosed daily for 10 or 20 days with VCD (160 mg/kg/d) or sesame oil. The animals were evaluated for reproductive function on days 10, 20, 35 after the onset of dosing, and on the day of follicle depletion. Each animal was killed at the specified time points, and ovaries, uteri, and plasma were collected.

RESULTS

VCD reduced (P < 0.05) the number of primordial (by 93.2%) and primary (by 85.1%) follicles after 10 days of dosing, whereas essentially all primordial and primary follicles were lost (P < 0.05) after 20 days of dosing. The average time to ovarian failure was on day 135 for 10-day-dosed mice and on day 52 for 20-day-dosed mice. Follicle-depleted mice in both groups had decreased (P < 0.05) ovarian and uterine weights. Circulating follicle-stimulating hormone levels were increased (P < 0.05) on day 44 after the onset of dosing in 10-day-dosed mice and on day 35 in 20-day-dosed mice.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that ovarian failure can be caused by VCD more rapidly if repeated daily dosing occurs for a longer period. Thus, the length of time leading up to ovarian failure (model for perimenopause) can be adjusted by varying the length of exposure.

Characterization of cyclicity and hormonal profile with impending ovarian failure in a novel chemical-induced mouse model of perimenopause

4-Vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) causes early, gradual ovarian failure in mice because it specifically targets small pre-antral ovarian follicles. The period between loss of these follicles and ovarian failure is analogous to perimenopause in women. We sought to characterize the period of onset of ovarian failure in VCD-treated mice in regard to estrous cycle length and hormonal changes. Female C57Bl/6 mice (age, 28 days) were dosed daily for 15 days with VCD (160 mg/kg intraperitoneally) to cause early ovarian failure or with vehicle only (control animals). Cycle length was monitored by vaginal cytology. Plasma levels of 17beta-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in control and VCD-treated animals were measured during proestrus of cycles 1 through 12. Cycle length (mean, 5.8 days) did not differ between groups for cycles 1 through 4. In contrast, cycle length during cycles 5 through 12 was increased (mean length, 10.9 days; P < 0.05 versus control) in VCD-treated animals, which also showed an apparent increase in plasma FSH levels. Plasma E2 and P4 at proestrus did not differ between groups during any cycle. Ovarian failure in VCD-treated mice was confirmed by histological evaluation on day 156 after onset of dosing, whereas control animals were still cycling. Therefore, despite compromised cycle length in VCD-treated mice, peak ovarian steroid production in preovulatory follicles at proestrus is adequate. These results demonstrate that the VCD-treated mouse can serve as an appropriate model to mimic hormonal changes during the perimenopausal transition in women.

Atherosclerotic lesion development in a novel ovary-intact mouse model of perimenopause

OBJECTIVE

Since the unexpected results from the Women's Health Initiative, the possible protective role of estrogen in preventing heart disease in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women is uncertain. This study examined atherosclerotic lesion development in ovariectomized versus follicle-depleted ovary-intact cholesterol-fed female low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-deficient mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We studied lesion development in LDL receptor-deficient mice that were ovariectomized or follicle depleted with 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) to induce ovarian failure, then treated +/- exogenous 17beta-estradiol via pellet implant. At 120 days after start of cholesterol feeding, the extent of lesion in aorta and innominate artery was determined. Lesion area in both locations was similar in vehicle control, VCD-treated, and ovariectomized mice. Replacement with 17beta-estradiol caused lesion reduction (P<0.05) in both arterial locations, but it was most efficacious in suppressing innominate lesion area in VCD-treated mice (12.9+/-5.2%) compared with ovariectomized mice (40.0+/-6.04%).

CONCLUSIONS

Endocrine status associated with the follicle-depleted ovary influences exogenous estradiol effects during the development of atherosclerotic lesions and, in particular, inhibits lesion progression in the innominate artery.

Damage to ovarian development and function

Ovarian function in women can be compromised by exposure to toxic environmental factors. Chemicals that affect ovarian function can act through direct effects on hormone action (ovary) or by interference with steroid hormone action (hypothalamus and/or pituitary). These effects can cause problems in the form of infertility. Alternatively, ovarian toxicants can directly cause ovarian failure by extensive follicular destruction. This targeting can result in loss of ovarian steroid hormones, eventual ovarian failure (menopause), and ultimate disruption of neuroendocrine feedback causing increased levels of FSH and LH. This article provides an overview of chemicals that in animal studies have been identified to cause disrupted ovarian function with a focus on the sites of targeting by which these disruptions occur. In predicting the impact of environmental factors on reproductive function in women, it is critical to gain a better appreciation of the physiological consequences resulting from the potential variety of mechanisms by which toxicants can disrupt ovarian function. This article attempts to provide such a perspective within the context of specific chemicals for which ovarian sites of toxicity have been identified.

Differences between rats and mice in the involvement of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide-induced ovarian follicle loss

Repeated dosing with the occupational chemical 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) selectively depletes small pre-antral follicles in the ovaries of rats and mice via apoptosis. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays a role in mediating the effects of several xenobiotics. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate a potential role of the AhR in VCD-induced ovotoxicity. Female F344 rats, C57BL/6 mice, or AhR-deficient (-/-, AhRKO) mice were dosed daily (15 days) with vehicle, VCD (80 mg/kg, i.p.) and/or the AhR antagonist, alpha-naphthoflavone (ANF; 80 mg/kg, i.p.). Compared with controls, VCD caused a 60% reduction (P < 0.05) in primordial and primary follicles in mice and rats. Concurrent dosing with ANF protected against the VCD-induced follicle loss in rats, but not in mice. As with AhR-intact mice and rats, VCD induced a 70% loss (P < 0.05) of small pre-antral follicles in AhRKO mice. AhR mRNA expression was increased (P < 0.05) by VCD dosing in small pre-antral follicles isolated from ovaries of rats but not mice. AhR protein in rats was increased by VCD dosing in oocyte nuclei in primordial and primary follicles when measured by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. In rat small pre-antral follicles, apoptosis-associated caspase-3-like activity was increased (P < 0.05) by VCD treatment, decreased (P < 0.05) by ANF treatment, and unaffected by VCD plus ANF treatment. VCD had no effect on expression of GST Ya1 or GST Ya2 mRNA or CYP 1A1 protein in rats. Taken together, these findings demonstrate a difference between rats and mice in the potential involvement of AhR as related to VCD-induced ovotoxicity. Whereas, AhR appears to be involved in rats, no evidence for a similar role in mice was obtained. Overall, these findings point out that there can be mechanistic species differences in ovarian responses to xenobiotic chemicals.

Initiation of delayed ovotoxicity by in vitro and in vivo exposures of rat ovaries to 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide

Repeated daily dosing of rats with the ovotoxic, occupational chemical 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD, 80 mg/kg, i.p.) selectively depletes primordial and primary ovarian follicles. This study was designed to investigate whether follicle loss can be achieved following a single, acute exposure to VCD. Ovaries removed from postnatal-day-4 female Fischer 344 rats were cultured in the absence or presence of VCD for 15 days. Continuous in vitro exposure to VCD (15 days) caused concentration-dependent loss of primordial and small primary follicles. A single exposure to VCD in vitro (30 microM, 24 h) also caused significant losses of primordial and primary follicles 14 days later. Additionally, 28-day-old female rats were given a single injection of VCD (40-320 mg/kg, i.p.). A single dose at 320 mg/kg resulted in substantial loss of all follicle stages beginning 6 days later. Overall, these results demonstrate that an acute exposure to high concentrations/doses of VCD is sufficient to cause subsequent delayed loss of follicles.

Can the clock be turned back on ovarian aging?

A basic tenet of reproductive biology is that female mammals are born with a set number of germ cells (oocytes). A new study by Johnson et al. challenges these beliefs by demonstrating that the postnatal mouse ovary contains actively dividing germ cells. These findings have implications for prolonging the reproductive life span of women.

The follicle-deplete mouse ovary produces androgen

The follicle-depleted postmenopausal ovary is enriched in interstitial cells that produce androgens. This study was designed to cause follicle depletion in mice using the industrial chemical, 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD), and characterize the steroidogenic capacity of cells in the residual ovarian tissue. From a dose-finding study, the optimal daily concentration of VCD was determined to be 160 mg/kg. Female B6C3F(1) immature mice were treated daily with vehicle control or VCD (160 mg kg(-1) day(-1), 15 days, i.p.). Ovaries were removed and processed for histological evaluation. On Day 15 following onset of treatment, primordial follicles were depleted and primary follicles were reduced to about 10% of controls. On Day 46, primary follicles were depleted and secondary and antral follicles were reduced to 0.7% and 2.6% of control, respectively. Seventy-five percent of treated mice displayed disruptions in estrous cyclicity. All treated mice were in persistent diestrus (acyclic) by Day 58. Plasma FSH levels were increased (P < 0.05) relative to controls on Day 37 and had plateaued by Day 100. Relative to age-matched cyclic controls, by Day 127, the significant differences in VCD-treated mice included reduced ovarian and uterine weights, elevated plasma LH and FSH, and reduced plasma progesterone and androstenedione. Furthermore, plasma 17beta-estradiol levels were nondetectable. Unlike controls, immunostaining for LH receptor, and the high density lipoprotein receptor (SR-BI), was diffuse in ovarian sections from VCD-treated animals. Ovaries from Day 120 control and VCD-treated animals were dissociated and dispersed cells were placed in culture. Cultured cells from ovaries of VCD-treated animals produced less LH-stimulated progesterone than control cells. Androstenedione production was nondetectable in cells from cyclic control animals. Conversely, cells from VCD-treated animals produced androstenedione that was doubled in the presence of insulin and LH (1 and 3 ng/ml). Collectively, these data demonstrate that VCD-mediated follicle depletion results in residual ovarian tissue that may be analogous to the follicle-deplete postmenopausal ovary. This may serve as a useful animal model to examine the dynamics of follicle loss in women as ovarian senescence ensues.

Expression and activity of cytochromes P450 2E1, 2A, and 2B in the mouse ovary: the effect of 4-vinylcyclohexene and its diepoxide metabolite

4-Vinylcyclohexene (VCH), an occupational chemical, causes destruction of small preantral follicles (F1) in mice. Previous studies suggested that VCH is bioactivated via cytochromes P450 (CYP450) to the ovotoxic, diepoxide metabolite, VCD. Whereas hepatic CYP450 isoforms 2E1, 2A, and 2B can metabolize VCH, the role of ovarian metabolism is unknown. This study investigated expression of these isoforms in isolated ovarian fractions (F1, 25-100 microm; F2, 100-250 microm; F3, >250 microm; interstitial cells, Int) from B6C3F1 mice dosed daily (15 days; ip) with vehicle, VCH (7.4 mmol/kg/day) or VCD (0.57 mmol/kg/day). Ovaries were removed and either isolated into specific ovarian compartments for mRNA analysis, fixed for immunohistochemistry, or prepared for enzymatic assays. mRNA and protein for all isoforms were expressed/distributed in all ovarian fractions from vehicle-treated mice. In the targeted F1 follicles, VCH or VCD dosing increased (p < 0.05) mRNA encoding CYP2E1 (645 +/- 14% VCH; 582 +/- 16% VCD), CYP2A (689 +/- 8% VCH; 730 +/- 22% VCD), and CYP2B (246 +/- 7% VCH) above control. VCH dosing altered (p < 0.05) mRNA encoding CYP2E1 in nontargeted F3 follicles (168 +/- 7%) and CYP2A in Int (207 +/- 19%) above control. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the greatest staining intensity for all CYP isoforms in the Int. VCH dosing altered (p < 0.05) staining intensity in Int for CYP2E1 (19 +/- 2.4% below control) and CYP2A (39 +/- 5% above control). Staining intensity for CYP2B was increased (p < 0.05) above control in granulosa cells of small preantral (187 +/- 42%) and antral (63 +/- 8%) follicles. Catalytic assays in ovarian homogenates revealed that CYP2E1 and CYP2B were functional. Only CYP2E1 activity was increased (149 +/- 12% above control; p < 0.05) by VCH dosing. The results demonstrate that mRNA and protein for CYP isoforms known to bioactivate VCH are expressed in the mouse ovary and are modulated by in vivo exposure to VCH and VCD. Interestingly, there is high expression of these isoforms in the Int. Thus, the ovary may contribute to ovotoxicity by promoting bioactivation of VCH to the toxic metabolite, VCD.

Long-term effects of ovarian follicular depletion in rats by 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide

4-Vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) destroys preantral ovarian follicles in rats. Female 28-day Fisher 344 (F344) rats were dosed (30 days) with VCD (80 mg/kg per day, i.p.) or vehicle, and animals were evaluated for reproductive function at subsequent time points for up to 360 days. At each time point animals were killed, and ovaries and plasma collected. VCD reduced (P<0.05) the number of preantral follicles by day 30 relative to control. There were no ultrastructural differences in morphology between VCD-treated and control ovaries. Circulating FSH levels in VCD-treated animals were greater (days 120, 240, and 360, P<0.05) than in controls. Cyclicity was disrupted in the VCD-treated group by day 360. These results show that VCD-induced follicular destruction in rats is associated with a sequence of events (loss of preantral follicles, increased plasma FSH, and cyclic disruption) preceding premature ovarian senescence that is similar to events that occur during the onset of menopause in women.

Characterization of a rat in vitro ovarian culture system to study the ovarian toxicant 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide

Repeated daily dosing of rats with the occupational chemical 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) causes selective depletion of the smallest preantral ovarian follicles (primordial and primary). These targeted populations are difficult to study because they comprise very little of the overall mass of ovarian tissue. Additionally, they are randomly distributed throughout the ovary. Therefore, a neonatal rat ovarian culture system containing predominantly primordial and primary follicles was developed and its susceptibility to VCD was assessed. The in vivo sensitivity of neonatal rats to VCD dosing was first confirmed by daily injection of VCD (80 mg/kg/day ip) on postnatal days (PND) 4-19. On PND 19, depletion of primordial and small primary follicles was evident. Ovarian cultures were then established utilizing a floating organ culture system to treat ovaries from PND 4 Fischer 344 rats in vitro. Initial follicle populations in cultured ovaries consisted of primordial (81%) and small primary (19%) follicles, whereas larger-sized preantral follicles had developed after 15 days in culture (67% primordial, 31% small primary, and 2% large primary). Cultured rat ovaries were sensitive to follicle depletion by incubation with VCD (> or =30 microM), and follicle loss occurred in a time-dependent manner (8-15 days). Evidence for apoptosis in VCD-exposed ovaries, as demonstrated in vivo, was obtained using immunohistochemistry. There was significantly more staining for apoptosis-associated active caspase-3 and TUNEL in ovaries incubated with VCD (30 microM, 15 days) compared with matched controls. These results demonstrate that small preantral follicles of cultured neonatal rat ovaries are sensitive to VCD exposure. The similarities between VCD's effects in vitro and in vivo demonstrate the usefulness of this system for future mechanistic studies related to ovarian follicle loss induced by VCD or other ovotoxic chemicals.

Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and AP-1 transcription factor in ovotoxicity induced by 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide in rats

Previous studies have demonstrated that ovotoxicity induced in small preantral (primordial and primary) ovarian follicles by 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) in rats is likely via acceleration of the normal process of atresia (apoptosis). This acceleration is associated with increased activities of caspase cascades, changes in subcellular distribution of Bcl-2 family members, and alteration of estrogen receptor-mediated signaling pathways. The present study was designed to investigate possible effects of VCD dosing on the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)/AP-1 signaling pathways in rat ovarian small follicles. Female F344 rats were given a single dose of VCD (80 mg/kg i.p., 1 day--a time when ovotoxicity has not been initiated) or dosed daily for 10 or 15 days (80 mg/kg i.p.; 10 days--a time when the earliest signs of impending follicular destruction is seen, 15 days--a time when significant ovotoxicity is underway). Four hours following the final dose, ovaries and livers were collected. Ovarian small (25-100 microm) and large (100-250 microm) preantral follicles were isolated, and cytosolic or nuclear extracts were prepared from follicles and livers for analyses. Activities of MAPKs, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK), and p38 kinase, were determined in follicular and liver cytosolic extracts, and AP-1 DNA binding activity was determined in follicular and liver nuclear extracts. Compared with control, a single dose of VCD caused a decrease in JNK activity and an increase of AP-1 binding activity in isolated small ovarian follicles. After repeated daily dosing with VCD for 10 or 15 days, JNK and p38 kinase activities in small ovarian follicles were increased (p38 kinase: 1.64 +/- 0.14 for 10 days, 1.48 +/- 0.11 for 15 days, VCD/control, P < 0.01; JNK: 1.44 +/- 0.11 for 10 days, 1.37 +/- 0.06 for 15 days, VCD/control, P < 0.01) and AP-1 binding activity in small ovarian follicles was decreased (10 days, 0.29 +/- 0.04; 15 days, 0.51 +/- 0.04, VCD/control, P < 0.01). VCD did not affect any of these measurements in large preantral follicles or liver. Phosphorylation status of c-Jun protein as measured by Western blotting was increased (1.22 +/- 0.1, VCD/control, P < 0.05) after the 15-day daily dosing with VCD, but total c-Jun protein levels were unaffected. Using antibodies against c-Jun or phospho-c-Jun for supershift DNA binding assay, c-Jun and phospho-c-Jun were identified in the AP-1-DNA binding complex, and the binding activity was reduced in tissues with increased phospho-c-Jun protein levels. Taken together, these data provide evidence that accelerated atretic signals induced by VCD is associated with MAPK/AP-1 signaling pathways and phosphorylation of c-Jun plays a significant role in transmitting the apoptotic signals.

In vitro ovarian tissue and organ culture: a review

Many investigations have utilized techniques for culturing ovarian tissue or isolated follicles in vitro. Whole ovaries from fetal or neonatal rodents have been incubated in organ culture systems. This has been utilized to understand the sequence of follicle formation and its hormonal requirements, activation of quiescent follicles, follicular growth and development, and acquisition of steroidogenic capabilities. Adaptations of this technique include incubation of ovaries in a chamber continuously perfused with medium or perfusion of medium through the intact vasculature. Late follicular development, ovulation, and steroidogenesis can also be examined in these systems. Another approach has been to culture individual follicles isolated by enzymatic or mechanical dissociation. The majority of this research has focused on improving follicular development in vitro. This review will discuss these various culture techniques and some of the results that have been acquired. Recent results from toxicological studies utilizing whole ovarian cultures performed will also be described. Future applications for ovarian and follicular cultures may include in vitro follicular development for eventual production of offspring from frozen ovarian tissue, mechanistic studies related to the impact of endocrine disruptors and ovotoxicants on ovarian function, and further investigations into follicle activation and development.

Methoxychlor may cause ovarian follicular atresia and proliferation of the ovarian epithelium in the mouse

Methoxychlor (MXC) is currently used to protect agricultural products from insects. Previous studies show that MXC adversely affects the ovary, but the target cells were not revealed by those studies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that MXC induces ovarian changes by adversely affecting the antral follicles and the ovarian surface epithelium in the mouse. To test this hypothesis, cycling female CD-1 mice (39 days) were dosed with MXC (8, 16, or 32 mg/kg/day), kepone (KPN, 8 mg/kg/day, positive control), or sesame oil (vehicle control) via intraperitoneal injection for 10 or 20 days. Estrous cyclicity was evaluated daily via vaginal lavage. After dosing, ovaries were collected for histological evaluation of follicle numbers, atresia, and surface epithelial height. The results indicate that at the 20-day time point, MXC (32 mg/kg) and KPN (8 mg/kg) increased the percentage of atretic antral follicles (n= 4-9,p<or= 0.001). MXC (32 mg/kg) also increased the height of the ovarian surface epithelium compared with controls (n= 7-10,p<or= 0.045), and KPN increased the percentage of days in estrus (n= 6-10,p<or= 0.0001). These data suggest that MXC and KPN increase antral follicle atresia, MXC increases surface epithelial height, and KPN affects vaginal cytology.

Expression and activity of microsomal epoxide hydrolase in follicles isolated from mouse ovaries

Microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) is involved in the detoxification of xenobiotics that are or can form epoxide metabolites, including the ovotoxicant, 4-vinylcyclohexene (VCH). This industrial chemical is bioactivated by hepatic CYP450 to the diepoxide metabolite, VCD, which destroys mouse small preantral follicles (F1). Since ovarian mEH may play a role in VCD detoxification, these studies investigated the expression and activity of mEH in isolated ovarian fractions. Mice were given 1 or 15 daily doses (ip) of VCH (7.4 mmol/kg/day) or VCD (0.57 mmol/kg/day); 4 h following the final dose, ovaries were removed, distinct populations of intact follicles (F1, 25-100 microm; F2, 100-250 microm; F3, > 250 microm) and interstitial cells (Int) were isolated, and total RNA and protein were extracted. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and the substrate cis-stilbene oxide (CSO; 12.5 microM) were used to evaluate expression and specific activity of mEH, respectively. Confocal microscopy evaluated ovarian distribution of mEH protein. Expression of mRNA encoding mEH was increased in F1 (410 +/- 5% VCH; 292 +/- 5% VCD) and F2 (1379 +/- 4% VCH; 381 +/- 11% VCD) follicles following repeated dosing with VCH or VCD. Catalytic activity of mEH increased in F1 follicles following repeated dosing with VCH/VCD (381 +/- 11% VCH; 384 +/- 27% VCD). Visualized by confocal microscopy, mEH protein was distributed throughout the ovary with the greatest staining intensity in the interstitial cells and staining in the theca cells that was increased by dosing (56 +/- 0.8% VCH; 29 +/- 0.9% VCD). We conclude that mEH is expressed and is functional in mouse ovarian follicles. Additionally,in vivo dosing with VCH and VCD affects these parameters.

mdr1a deficiency corrects sterility in Niemann-Pick C1 protein deficient female mice

Niemann-Pick type C disease is a progressive neurological disease with cholesterol storage in liver, and npc1-/- mice share these features and are sterile. We have searched for the cause of sterility and found normal folliculogenesis and progesterone levels but lack of implantation. Multiple drug resistance (MDR) P-glycoproteins are plasma membrane proteins implicated in the movement of drugs and lipids across membranes. Their functions are inhibited by progesterone, which has been shown to alter cellular cholesterol homeostasis and has implicated P-glycoproteins in the movement of cholesterol to the endoplasmic reticulum. We have introduced the mdr1a knockout into the npc1 mutant line. While the neurological disease continues at its usual rate, preventing the females from taking care of their litters, npc1-/-, mdr1a-/- females became fertile. Although the mdr1a P-glycoprotein co-localizes with caveolae, neither caveolin-1 nor npc1 levels were significantly altered in the livers of double homozygotes. The absence of mdr1a was confirmed by immunoblotting, but npc1 deficiency was not associated with consistent changes in cerebellar mdr1a in mdr1a+/+ mice. The results show that a mdr1a mutation is an in vivo suppressor of female sterility in npc1 deficient mice.

17beta-estradiol affords protection against 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide-induced ovarian follicle loss in Fischer-344 rats

Repeated dosing with 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) accelerates atresia via apoptosis in primordial and primary follicles in ovaries of rats. The mechanisms that control atresia and VCD-induced toxicity are unknown; however, they could involve 17beta-E2. Atresia slows as animals enter puberty, whereas circulating E2 levels increase with the the onset of cyclicity. This inverse relationship suggests that E2 may be involved in the control of atresia. Therefore, this study was designed to determine whether treatment of immature rats with E2 could protect follicles normally destroyed by VCD-induced apoptosis. Female F344 rats were treated daily with E2, ER analogs, and/or VCD for 15 d. VCD alone caused a 50% reduction in primordial and primary follicles. Coinjection of E2 (0.1 mg/kg) and VCD (80 mg/kg) selectively protected primary follicles from VCD-induced follicle loss. This protection was mimicked by an ER agonist, genistein (0.1 mg/kg), and prevented by an ER antagonist, 4-hydroxytamoxifen (2 mg/kg). VCD treatment increased caspase-3-like activity, whereas concurrent treatment with genistein and VCD restored caspase-3-like activity to control levels. VCD treatment had no effect on circulating E2 levels, uterine weight, or E2 binding to the ER, nor could it directly displace E2 from ERbeta. These observations support the idea that ER-mediated protection against VCD-induced follicle toxicity is obtained by reducing apoptosis in small preantral follicles, although VCD does not appear to directly interact with ER.