Effect of tamoxifen treatment on the epidermal growth factor receptor expression in the mouse ovarian tissue

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Tamoxifen (TAM) treatment on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in the pubertal mice ovary. In this study, 80 female mice (8 week-old) were used. Animals divided four groups; non-injected (control A), injected with TAM’s vehicle solution (control B). The mice in groups TAM 0.5 and TAM 1.5 were treated with tamoxifen at a dose 0.5 and 1.5 mg/mouse/day respectively. TAM was dissolved with 10% ethanol: 90% corn oil. Mice were given daily subcutaneously injections for 5 days. Ovarian sections were immunostained with EGFR antibody and triple staining for examine the general structure. We observed that follicular atresia was increased, follicular cysts were formed in stroma, and interstitial cells were increased with TAM dose treatment. In the present study, there were no significant differences in the EGFR expression in mouse ovary of all groups. EGFR expression was not determined in the granulosa cells. While strong EGFR immunoreaction was observed in the interstitial cells and oocyte cytoplasma, weak EGFR immunoreactions was observed in theca cells of follicles. As a result, it was observed that the administered doses of TAM have not significant influence on EGFR expression.