Jan KOTWICA

Background: The aim of our study was to investigate the mechanisms of oil-related product toluene and functional food flaxseed Linum usitatissimum L. on ovaries in humans and the potential protective effect of flaxseed against adverse toluene action. We examined 1) the action of toluene (at doses 0, 10, and 100 ng/ml), 2) flaxseed extract (10 μg/ml), and their combination on cultured human ovarian granulosa cells. Methods: Viability, markers of proliferation (accumulation of PCNA) and apoptosis (accumulation of bax), the release of steroid hormones, IGF-I, oxytocin, and prostaglandin F were analyzed by Trypan blue exclusion test, quantitative immunocytochemistry, and EIA/ELISA. Results: Toluene suppressed all analyzed ovarian parameters. Flaxseed stimulated proliferation, progesterone and IGF-I and reduced prostaglandin F output. The presence of flaxseed supported toluene action on cell viability and apoptosis and inverted its effect on proliferation, progesterone, testosterone, and IGF-I release. Conclusion: These observations a) confirm direct inhibitory/toxic action of toluene on ovarian cells, b) demonstrate the ability of flaxseed to affect ovarian cell functions, c) show the ability of flaxseed to prevent some toxic effect of toluene, and d) indicate the that flaxseed could be a biostimulator of human reproduction and protector against the adverse influence of toluene on female reproduction.