Figure 2.

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) promotes cell phenotypes associated with anticancer activity. A: The proliferation index is reduced in the prevention group. Cervical sections were stained for bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) (green). Nuclei were counterstained with Hoechst 33258 and pseudocolored red. B: Results shown in A were quantified. On average, 360 basal and 1062 suprabasal cells per sample were counted. A one-way analysis of variance test was performed followed by Tukey honestly significant difference (HSD) test. C: The apoptosis index is increased in the prevention group. Cervical sections were subjected to terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Arrowheads point to TUNEL⁺ cells (green). Nuclei were stained with Hoechst 33258 and pseudocolored red. D: Results shown in C were quantified. On average, 1563 cells per sample were counted. A one-way analysis of variance test was performed followed by Tukey HSD test. E: Terminal differentiation is increased in the prevention group. Representative photomicrographs of Alcian-blue–stained cervical sections are shown. F: The proliferation index has not changed after 16 hours of MPA treatment. Cervical sections were stained for the proliferation marker Ki-67 (green). Nuclei were counterstained with Hoechst 33258 and pseudocolored red. G: Results shown in F were quantified. On average, 271 basal and 807 suprabasal cells per sample were counted. H: The apoptosis index increases after 16 hours of MPA treatment. Cervical sections were subjected to TUNEL assay. TUNEL⁺ cells are shown in green. Nuclei are stained with Hoechst 33258 (blue). I: Results shown in H were quantified. On average, 1475 cells per sample were counted. Dashed lines demarcate the border between the epithelium (ep) and stroma (st). Data are expressed as means ± SEM. n = 3. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 versus the other groups; ^††††P < 0.0001 versus vehicle (2-tailed t-test). Scale bars = 50 μm. Veh, vehicle.