Objectives: This study describes the presence of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) 1 and 2 in oocytes, preimplantation embryos, and mouse female genital organs.
Background: GPx1 and 2 are antioxidant enzymes, which play important roles in protection of cells against oxidation, which may be formed during cell physiological processes.
Methods: After superovulation of female mice, oocytes and preimplantation embryos (O/PE) were isolated for immunofluorescent analysis, female genital organs were removed for immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses.
Results: Using immunofluorescence, GPx1 was detected in all OP/E, where it formed clusters near nuclei, or under the cytoplasmic membrane. GPx2 was not detected in any O/PE. Using immunohistochemistry, GPx1 was observed in corpus luteum and oocytes, and in oviductal and uterine epithelium. GPx2 was detected in corpus luteum, but not in oocytes. Oviductal and uterine epithelium was mostly negative. Using Western blot, two GPx1 bands of different molecular weights were detected in uterus. One GPx2 band was observed in all investigated organs.
Conclusion: These results show that both enzymes may be important during preimplantation period of pregnancy in genital organs, GPx1 also in O/PE. GPx2 may play roles in embryo after the implantation, when gastrointestinal tract is formed (Fig. 10, Ref. 75).
Keywords: embryos; oxidative stress; preimplantation; reactive oxygen species; superovulation..