ESTROGENS INDUCE APOPTOSIS IN MOUSE PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGES

AIM: To study whether estrogen might induce apoptosis in mouse periton eal macrophages (MPM). METHOD: The MPM were isolated and incubated in culture medium containing 17-beta-estradiol, estrone, or equal volume of 100 % ethanol as control. DNA fragmentation was visualized by agaro se gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: 17-beta-Estradiol 0.01 - 1 mu mol.L-1 or estrone 10 - 20 mu mol.L-1 elicited typical morphological apoptosi s and DNA fragmentation in a concentration-dependent manner in MPM. St aurosporine (Sta) 0.01 mu mol.L-1, cycloheximide (Cyc) 1 mg.L-1, and t amoxifen (Tam) 10 mu mol.L-1 inhibited the DNA fragmentation induced b y 17-beta-estradiol 1 mu mol.L-1 or estrone 20 mu mol.L-1. CONCLUSION: Estradiol and estrone induced apoptosis in MPM.