Expression of c-Jun in human granulosa cells from patients participating in in vitro fertilization programs

Background: The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is one of the major signaling pathways that transmit intracellular signals initiated by extracellular stimuli to the nucleus. The stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase is a subfamily of MAP kinases implicated in cytokine and stress responses. Objective: In this study, we have examined total and phosphorylated c-Jun in the mural and cumulus granulosa cells, and investigated also whether c-Jun can be responsible for the difference in the expression of apoptosis between mural and cumulus regions. Materials and Methods: A total of 14 consecutive couples participating in IVF program were investigated. Aspirated follicular fluid was transferred into tissue culture dishes and oocyte-cumulus cells complexes were isolated. The cells were centrifuge and fixed with Bouin’s solution and then were put on a glass slide. After fixation, the slides were stained by immunocytochemistry method. The incidence of apoptotic granulosa cells was examined by a fluorescence microscope. Results: The incidence of apoptotic granulosa cells was 1.27 ± 0.12 in the mural region and 0.38 ± 0.07 in the cumulus regions. All mural and cumulus cells expressed total c-Jun in 7 patients while phosphorylated c- Jun was also expressed in all cells of the other 7 patients. There was no difference between apoptotic and nonapoptotic cells in the expression of total and phosphorylated c-Jun. Conclusion: C-Jun may not be responsible for apoptotic effect on mural and cumulus cells.