Superoxide dismutase in normal cycling human ovaries: immunohistochemical localization and characterization

Objective: To investigate the expression of manganese (Mn) and copper-zinc (Cu,Zn) superoxide dismutase (SOD) in normal cycling human ovaries througho ut the menstrual cycle. Design: Descriptive, controlled study. Setting: Tohoku University School of Medicine. Patient(s): Twenty-four normal cycling human ovaries were obtained from pat ients who underwent oophorectomy and hysterectomy for squamous cell carcino ma of the uterine cervix. Intervention(s): Immunohistochemistry for Mn-SOD and Cu,Zn-SOD. Main Outcome Measure(s): Immunostaining. Result(s): In the follicular stage, Mn-SOD immunoreactivity was detected in granulosa. and theca interna cells of steroid-producing follicles, that is , preantral, nondominant, dominant, and atretic follicles, whereas Cu,Zn-SO D was detected in theca interna cells of these follicles and in granulosa c ells of dominant follicles. In the luteal stage, immunoreactivity for Mn-SO D and Cu,Zn-SOD was observed in both luteinized granulosa and theca cells o f the functioning corpus luteum. In the early degenerating corpus luteum, b oth Mn-SOD and Cu,Zn-SOD were positive in steroid-producing luteinized thec a cells. Mn-SOD immunoreactivity was also detected in nonsteroid-producing luteinized granulosa cells and macrophages. Conclusion(s): Our results suggest that the expression of Mn-SOD and Cu,Zn- SOD closely correlates with steroidogenesis in the human ovary. In addition , Mn-SOD may play an important role in the process of luteal regression. (F ertil Steril(R) 1999;72:720-6. (C) 1999 by American Society for Reproductiv e Medicine.).