AIM: To explore the effect of insulin on apoptosis of cultured human
trophoblast cells and its possible mechanism. METHODS:
Human
trophoblast cells from early pregnancy women were cultured and divided into 3 groups; normal control group; H 2O 2 treatment group and insulin plus H 2O 2 treatment group. H 2O 2 was used to induce apoptosis of trophoblasts cells. Apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry. The effects of insulin on Bcl 2 expression and caspase 3 activity were also detected. RESULTS: H 2O 2 might induce apoptosis of
Trophoblast cells and typical morphological features of apoptotic cells was observed wnder electron microscope. Flow cytometry detection exhibited that insulin could reduce markedly H 2O 2 induced apoptotic rate of trophoblasts cells( P <0.01). Bcl 2 expression rate in H 2O 2 treatment group was significanty lower than that in control group( P <0.01), while caspase 3 activity was distinctly higher than that in control group( P <0.01). CONCLUSION: Insulin could inhibit apoptosis of human tropoblasts cells induced by H 2O 2, which be may through decreased caspase 3 activity and increased Bcl 2 protein expression.