The effect of progesterone on caspase 8, 9 and 3 activity and investigation of morphological changes in MCF-7 cells nuclei

Background and Objective: : Studies have shown that progesterone is effective in inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of progesterone on the activity of caspases 8, 9, and 3 and to investigate morphological changes in MCF-7 cell nuclei. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, MCF-7 cells were purchased from the Bank of Pasteur Institute of Iran. The activity of caspases 8, 9, 3 and the morphological changes of the cell nucleus in the cells exposed to the cytotoxic concentration of progesterone (2.5 mg/ml) were evaluated. Data were analyzed using an independent t-test. Results: The activity of caspases 8, 9, and 3 (P˂0.01, P˂ 0.001 and P˂0.001, respectively) in MCF-7 cells exposed to cytotoxic progesterone concentration (2.5 mg/ml) significantly increased compared with the control group. Exposure of MCF-7 cells to the cytotoxic concentration of progesterone (2.5 mg/ml) caused several changes in MCF-7 cell nuclei. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that progesterone increases caspase 8, 9, and 3 activity in MCF-7 cells.