Dietary Supplementation of Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Alters Ovarian Functions of Xylene-Exposed Mice

Abstract

The aim of the performed study was to examine the ability of xylene, flaxseed, and their combinations to affect morphological and endocrine indexes of murine ovaries. The 72 indexes of secondary and tertiary follicular cells, oocytes, corpora lutea, and ovarian stroma have been quantified: diameter, markers of proliferation PCNA and apoptosis caspase 3, receptors to FSH, oxytocin, estrogen (alpha and beta), and progesterone. In addition, concentrations of the ovarian hormones progesterone, estradiol, and IGF-I in the blood, as well as their production by isolated ovaries cultured with and without gonadotropins (FSH + LH mixture), were determined using histological, immunohistochemical, and immunoassay analyses. The character of xylene and flaxseed effects on ovarian functions in mice depended on the stage of ovarian folliculogenesis. It was shown that flaxseed could mitigate and prevent the major (63%) effects of xylene on the ovary. In addition, the ability of gonadotropins to affect ovarian hormone release and prevent its response to xylene has been shown. The effects of these additives could be mediated by changes in the release and reception of hormones. These observations suggest that flaxseed and possibly gonadotropins could be natural protectors of a female reproductive system against the adverse effects of xylene.

Influence of Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) on Female Reproduction

“…A similar effect on these markers in ovarian cells was observed in pigs fed with flaxseed diet in vivo [12]. Feeding with flaxseed promoted the expression of both proliferation (PCNA, cyclin B1) and apoptosis (bax, caspase 3) markers in murine ovaries [35,36]. On the other hand, in vivo experiments on mice performed by Pourjafari et al [33] did not show substantial influence of dietary flaxseed on ovarian cell apoptosis and the expression of antiapoptotic molecule bcl-2.…”

“…In other experiments of this group [34], the dietary extract of flax or flaxseed was able to increase ovarian weight, but it decreased the size of ovarian follicles. On the other hand, in experiments by Vlckova et al [35,36], the feeding of mice with flaxseed was able to increase the size of both the ovary and of the ovarian follicles and to promote oestrus.…”

“…In the experiments of Pourjafari on mice, dietary flaxseed resulted in a decrease in oestradiol in their blood plasma 33 . On the other hand, Vlckova et al reported the ability of dietary flaxseed to increase concentrations of progesterone and oestradiol in mice plasma 35 , 36 and the secretion of these hormones by isolated ovarian fragments 35 . Furthermore, in the experiments of these authors, feeding with flaxseed increased the expression of receptors to FSH and oxytocin in murine ovaries 35 and steroid hormones receptors on murine uteri 36 .…”

“…Oestrogens are important regulators of female reproduction (ovarian follicullogenesis, oogenesis, embryo implantation in uterus and pregnancy 54 ). Previously we mentioned the ability of flaxseed to affect oestradiol release 27 , 29 , 32 , 35 , 36 , 41 , 43 , 44 , oestradiol metabolism 27 , 43 , 48 , expression of oestrogen receptors 27 , 36 , 43 and similarity of its action to the action of oestrogen 29 . These data indicate that flaxseed molecules with phytoestrogen activity can affect oestrogen-dependent reproductive processes and ovarian carcinogenesis via oestrogen receptors.…”

“…The ability of flaxseed to affect ovarian folliculogenesis, which defines oocyte maturation, and further development indicates a possible flaxseed influence on oo-and embryogenesis. Indeed, dietary flaxseed was able to increase the size of oocytes and their germinal vesicles within primordial ovarian follicles (but not in follicles at other stages of development) in mice [35,36] and gilts [12]. The feeding of cows with flaxseed oil increased the number of recovered oocytes and their ability to cleave and to reach the blastocyst stage after in vitro fertilization [14,15].…”