Pathologic Characteristics of Ovarian Hemorrhagic Polycyst in Estrogen Receptor-alpha (ERalpha) Knockout Mice and Roles of ERalpha in Hemorrhagic Polycyst.
- Author:
Hyun Jin SON
1
;
Joo Heon KIM
;
Hye Kyung LEE
;
Mee Ja PARK
;
Dong Wook KANG
;
Che Myong KO
Author Information
1. Department of Pathology, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea. astrias@eulji.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Polycystic ovary syndrome;
Estrogen receptor-alpha knockout (ERalphaKO);
Hemorrhagic polycysts;
Immunohistochemistry
- MeSH:
Actins;
Animals;
Anovulation;
Antibodies;
Corpus Luteum;
Estrogen Receptor alpha;
Estrogen Receptor beta;
Estrogens;
Exons;
Female;
Humans;
Hyperplasia;
Immunohistochemistry;
Mice;
Mice, Knockout;
Muscles;
Ovarian Follicle;
Ovary;
Phenotype;
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome;
Sudan;
Theca Cells
- From:Korean Journal of Pathology
2010;44(4):376-383
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy causing anovulation in women of childbearing age. It has been well established that estrogen receptor-alpha knockout (ERalphaKO) mice display several pathologic ovarian phenotypes of PCOS. The aims of this study were to determine ovarian pathology in new ERalphaKO mice using a CreloxP approach and intra-ovarian ERalpha function as regulating key aspects of PCOS. METHODS: ERalphaKO mice, which were deficient in exon 3 of the ERalpha gene, were used. Immunohistochemical studies were done on ovaries of control and ERalphaKO mice using antibodies specific to ERalpha, ERbeta, inhibin-alpha, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), as well as histochemical staining using Sudan black-B. RESULTS: All ovaries of ERalphaKO mice were larger than control mouse ovaries and displayed a disrupted theca-interstitial tissue organization, multiple atretic follicles and multiple hemorrhagic cysts. None of the ERalphaKO mouse ovaries showed a corpus luteum. In addition, heavy deposition of Sudan black-B positive foamy cells was seen. The theca externa of preantral immature follicles and hemorrhagic cysts showed strong expression of alpha-SMA. CONCLUSIONS: ERalphaKO mice show hemorrhagic polycystic ovaries and hyperplasia of the theca externa. This study demonstrates that the ERalpha is the functional key to the pathogenesis of PCOS.
