DNA damage and macrophage infiltration in the ovaries of the long-lived GH deficient Ames Dwarf and the short-lived bGH transgenic mice

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to evaluate the role of growth hormone (GH) in DNA damage, macrophage infiltration and the granulosa cells number of primordial and primary follicles. MethodsFor these experiments six groups of female mice were used. Four groups consisted of Ames dwarf (Prop-1df, df/df, n=12) and their normal littermates (N/df, n=12) mice, between sixteen and eighteen month-old, receiving GH (n=6 for df/df, and n=6 for N/df mice) or saline injections (n=6 for df/df, and n=6 for N/df mice). The other two groups consisted of ten to twelve-month-old bGH (n=6) and normal mice (N, n=6). Immunofluorescence for DNA damage (anti-{gamma}H2AX) and macrophage counting (anti-CD68) were performed. Granulosa cells of primordial and primary follicles were counted. ResultsFemale df/df mice had lower {gamma}H2AX foci intensity in in both oocytes and granulosa cells of primordial and primary follicles (p0.05). However, bGH mice had an increased number of granulosa cells on primordial and primary follicles compared to normal mice (p<0.05). ConclusionThe current study points to the role of the GH/IGF-I axis in maintenance of oocyte DNA integrity and macrophage ovarian infiltration in mice.