Apoptosis and active caspase-3 expression in human granulosa cells

Caspase-3 dependent apoptosis occurs in human granulosa cells and activates when follicles begin to leave the resting pool. After initial formation of the antrum, activation of caspase-3 is a normal physiologic process of the follicle during atresia and luteinization. Higher numbers of granulosa cells positive with caspase-3 than cells positive with TUNEL suggest an earlier activation of caspase-3 compared with the DNA fragmentation detected by TUNEL assay and also a longer detection period of caspase-3 than DNA fragmentation in apoptotic granulosa cells.