Objective: To study the effect of dietary glycine on female reproductive organs.
Design: Intravital microscopic, histologic, and biomolecular study.
Setting: Institute for Clinical & Experimental Surgery, University of Saarland.
Animal(s): Syrian golden hamsters.
Intervention(s): Endometrial fragments and ovarian follicles were transplanted into dorsal skinfold chambers of Syrian golden hamsters, which received glycine diet or standard pellet food (control).
Main outcome measure(s): Angiogenesis of the grafts was analyzed during 14 days using intravital fluorescence microscopy. Protein expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, cleaved caspase-3, p53, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in the eutopic endometrium and ovary was measured by Western blot analysis. Fertility and reproductive function of mating hamsters was assessed.
Result(s): Dietary glycine did not affect angiogenesis of endometrial and ovarian grafts, as indicated by a vascularized area, microvessel density, and blood perfusion compared with that of grafts in control animals. In addition, glycine-treated hamsters presented with normal reproductive function. Interestingly, glycine inhibited apoptosis in endometrial and ovarian tissue by down-regulation of NF-kappaB expression.
Conclusion(s): Our novel data indicate that glycine can be used as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory or angiogenic disorders without inducing serious side effects in the female reproductive tract.