ACTA ENDOCRINOLOGICA (BUC)

Background. Glycogen synthase kinase.3β (GSK.3β) has an important role in several signaling pathway including Wnt signaling pathway. Recent evidence has shown that this pathway is involved in follicle development, ovulation and Corpus luteum formation. Aim. In this study we have investigated the effect of LiCl (as a GSK.3β inhibitor) on the ovulation and corpus luteum formation in rat. Materials and methods. Immature 23-day female rats were injected with PMSG (15 IU) to induce follicular development, followed 48h later by HCG (15IU) to induce ovulation. To inhibit GSK3β activity 250 mg/kg LiCl were administerted at the time of LiCl injection. The ovaries were removed at 1,4,8,12,24 h after LiCl treatment and prepared for histological studies. Results. Our results show that the number of preovulatory follicle in LiCl treatment rats was not increased compared with control group. The number of corpus luteum blood vessels were decreased in comparison with control group (p<0.05). Conclusions. These findings show that although LiCl does not inhibit ovulation, it disrupts blood vessel formation in the corpus luteum.