The role of lysosomes in the phenomenon of concentration of aluminum and indium in the female reproductive system. An ultrastructural study

Abstract

The female reproductive system is one of the most complex systems in the body taking into account the hormonal fluctuations associated with ovarian and uterine menstrual cycles. The purpose of this work was to study the impact of aluminum nitrate and indium sulfate on the uterus and the ovary of a pregnant rat. The experiment was performed on adult female rats of Wistar strain weighing approximately 250g. The Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) showed the presence of electron-dense material in lysosomes of both uterine cells (myometrium and endometrium cells) and in the cells of the ovary (internal theca and granulosa cells). In addition to the presence of aluminum and indium deposits in the uterine and ovarian tissue, impaired endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and vacuolation were also identified. We concluded that lysosomes of uterus and ovary cells had the function to extract aluminum and indium introduced into the body in a soluble form. Then, the two elements were sequestrated within these organelles in an insoluble form most probably as phosphate salts such as reported for other kind of cells; kidney, liver, bone morrow Berry, 1996 [1]. This mechanism seems to be a defense one in which the lysosome would play a central role. Our results concerning the impact of the aluminum or indium presence in the lysosome of female reproductive system will be further used in order to assess their effects on the fertility and viability of oocytes in the pregnant treated rats.

Keywords: Aluminum; Indium; Lysosome; Ovary; TEM; Uterus.