The present study is designed to test the hypothesis that oxidative stress mediates hexavalent chromium (VI)-induced apoptosis in uterus. Female Wistar rats received an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of potassium dichromate at doses of 1 and 2 mg/kg. Superoxide anion production was assessed by determination of the reduction of cytochrome c and iodonitrotetrazolium (INT), lipid peroxidation (LPO), metallothioneins (MTs), and catalase (CAT) activity. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins was investigated. After 15 days of treatment, an increase of LPO and MT levels occurred, whereas CAT activity decreased. Intense apoptosis was observed in endometriotic stromal cells of Cr-exposed rats. Bax protein expression was induced in endometriotic stromal cells with 1 mg of Cr(VI)/kg, and in stromal and epithelial cells at the higher dose. These results clearly suggest that Cr(VI) subacute treatment causes oxidative stress in rat uterus, leading to endometriotic stromal cells apoptosis.
Keywords: apoptosis; hexavalent chromium; oxidative stress; rat; uterus.