Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics

, Volume 23, Issue 3, pp 149–156 | Cite as

Changes in the ratio of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expression and their cellular localization throughout the ovulatory cycle in the human oviduct

  • Christine Briton-Jones
  • Ingrid Hung Lok
  • Alice Lai See Po
  • Che Kwok Cheung
  • Tony T. Y. Chiu
  • Christopher Haines
Assisted Reproduction
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Purpose : To examine changes in the ratio of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expression throughout the ovulatory cycle in the ampullary region of the human oviduct.

Methods : The mucosal layer was isolated from the human oviduct tissue and semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain-reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of mRNA of Bax and Bcl-2 was performed. Immunohistochemistry provided the cellular localization of the Bax and Bcl-2 proteins. The ratio of expression of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA was examined in the ampullary region of the oviduct in samples obtained in the follicular, periovulatory, and luteal phases of the ovulatory cycle.

Results : Bax expression was constant in the follicular and periovulatory phase but showed a significant increase in the luteal phase. The Bax protein was present in all oviduct mucosal epithelial cells and the intensity of staining increased in luteal phase samples. Bcl-2 was expressed at a relatively constant level throughout the ovulatory cycle. The Bcl-2 protein was present in some but not all mucosal epithelial cells and the proportion of positive cells remained constant throughout the ovulatory cycle.

Conclusion : The proapoptotic gene Bax shows a significant increase in mRNA expression in the luteal phase of the ovulatory cycle while the expression level of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl-2 remains constant throughout the ovulatory cycle. The ratio of Bax:Bcl-2 increases significantly in the luteal phase consistent with cells undergoing apoptosis.

KEY WORDS:

Apoptosis Bax Bcl-2 human oviduct. 
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006

Authors and Affiliations

  • Christine Briton-Jones
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
  • Ingrid Hung Lok
    • 1
    • 4
  • Alice Lai See Po
    • 1
    • 2
  • Che Kwok Cheung
    • 1
    • 2
  • Tony T. Y. Chiu
    • 1
    • 4
  • Christopher Haines
    • 1
    • 2
  1. 1.The Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyThe Prince of Wales HospitalShatinPeople's Republic of China
  2. 2.Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongPeople's Republic of China
  3. 3.The Fertility InstitutesEncinoUSA
  4. 4.Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyThe Hospital Authority of Hong Kong, The Prince of Wales HospitalShatinHong Kong, P.R. China

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