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Updated: May 6, 2026
A Modified Co-Culture System for Understanding Granulosa-Theca Cell Interactions in the Bovine Ovary
Published on: September 19, 2025
Resveratrol and desferoxamine protect human OxLDL-treated granulosa cell subtypes from degeneration
U Schube1, M Nowicki, P Jogschies
1Institute of Anatomy (U.S., M.N., I.B., H.S.), University of Leipzig, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany; and Clinic for Reproductive Medicine and Gynecological Endocrinology (P.J., V.B.), D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Context:
Obese women suffer from anovulation and infertility, which are driven by oxidative stress caused by increased levels of lipid peroxides and circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL). OxLDL binds to lectin-like oxLDL receptor 1 (LOX-1), cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and causes cell death in human granulosa cells (GCs).
Objective:
Our objective was to reveal whether treatment with antioxidants resveratrol (RES) and/or desferoxamine (DFO) protect GCs from oxLDL-induced damage.
Design And Setting:
This basic research study was performed at the Institute of Anatomy and the Clinic of Reproductive Medicine.
Patients:
Patients were women undergoing in vitro fertilization therapy.
Main Outcome Measures:
GC cultures were treated with oxLDL alone or with RES or DFO under serum-free conditions for up to 36 hours. Dead cells were determined by propidium iodide uptake, cleaved caspase-3 expression, and electron microscopy. Mitosis was detected by Ki-67 immunostaining. LOX-1, TLR4, CD36, and heat-shock protein 60 were examined by Western blot. Measurement of oxidative stress markers (8-iso-prostaglandin F2α, advanced glycation end products, and protein carbonyl content) was conducted with ELISA kits.
Results:
Different subtypes of human GCs exposed to RES or DFO were protected as evidenced by the lack of cell death, enhanced mitosis, induction of protective autophagy, reduction of oxidative stress markers, and reduced expression of LOX-1, TLR4, CD36, and heat-shock protein 60. Importantly, RES could restore steroid biosynthesis in cytokeratin-positive GCs, which exhibited significant induction of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein.
Conclusions:
RES and DFO exert a protective effect on human GCs. Thus, RES and DFO may help improve the treatment of obese women or polycystic ovarian syndrome patients undergoing in vitro fertilization therapy.
