Effect and duration of gestagen influence on adrenal cortex and ovary. A morphological study in the Syrian golden hamster.
Perinatal androgen application prevents the cyclic secretion of gonadotropins and leads to sterility. Androgenic side effects were recorded in some synthetic gestagens. In order to determine their extent, different synthetic gestagens (dydrogesterone acetate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, cyproterone acetate) and one androgen hormone (testosterone propionate) were administered to ten separate groups of male and female hamsters. Started perinatally, the treatment was continued with increasing doses till the end of the eight week. Matched groups of animals and controls were killed at the age of 8 weeks (end of treatment), 12 weeks, and 16 weeks. Gestagenic effects on the adrenals and ovaries were studied by gravimetry, light microscopy, and histometry. The adrenals are influenced by the glucocorticoid-like and androgenic side-effects of MP and CA, but DY produces no effects of this kind. All gestagens reduce the number of corpora lutea, but the androgenic side-effects do not prevent the production of corpora lutea. Adrenal and ovarian changes are reversible. The female hamster adrenal is a sensitive substrate for androgenic and glucocorticoid-like side effects of synthetic gestagens.
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000473:pathology; D006224:Cricetinae; D003534:Cyproterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004394:Dydrogesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D013739:Testosterone; D004394:Dydrogesterone; D003534:Cyproterone; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone