Oxidative stress and activities of caspase-8, -9, and -3 are involved in cryopreservation-induced apoptosis in granulosa cells.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine whether the oxidative stress and the activities of caspase-8, -9, and -3 are involved in cryopreservation-induced apoptosis in granulosa cells.

Study Design: Granulosa cells from rats were cryopreserved with or without genistein. The level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was measured. Moreover, the expressions of caspase-8, -9, and -3 in both mRNA and protein were measured.

Results: The SOD level in cryopreserved granulosa cells was significantly lower than that in a fresh control group, and the levels of caspase-8, -9, and -3 expression in both mRNA and protein in cryopreserved granulosa cells were significantly higher than those of fresh control granulosa cells. Furthermore, the levels of caspase-8 and -3 expression in both mRNA and protein of granulosa cells cryopreserved in presence of genistein were significant lower than those of granulosa cells cryopreserved in absence of genistein.

Conclusion: Oxidative stress induced by cryopreservation in granulosa cells is involved in the activation of caspase-8 and -3. Cryopreservation-induced apoptosis in granulosa cells is mediated, at least in part, by activation of caspase-8, -9, and -3 dependent apoptotic pathways.