THE EFFECT OF CURCUMIN ON SECRETORY ACTIVITY, PROLIFERATION AND APOPTOSIS OF THE PORCINE OVARIAN GRANULOSA CELLS

The aim of this in vitro study was to examine the effect of natural plant (Curcuma longa) molecule curcumin on secretory activity, proliferation and apoptosis of porcine granulosa cells. The secretion of steroid hormones (progesterone, testosterone), accumulation of PCNA (marker of proliferation) and bax (marker of apoptosis) in granulosa cells of swine ovaries after curcumin treatment at the doses 0, 1, 10, 100 μg.mL-1 was determined by RIA and immunocytochemistry. It was observed that, addition of curcumin stimulated progesterone (at doses 1 and 10 μg.mL-1, but not 100 μg.mL-1) and testosterone at (100 μg.mL-1 but not 1 and 10 μg.mL-1) release. The number of cells contained PCNA was down-regulated by curcumin administration (at dose of 10 μg.mL-1, but not of 1 and 100 μg.mL-1). Bax expression was stimulated by curcumin at all doses added. Our results suggest a direct effect of curcumin on ovarian functions: steroidogenesis, proliferation and apoptosis. This could suggest antireproductive properties of curcumin in swine ovaries.