title: Alterations in rat vaginal histology by exogenous gonadotrophins.
abstract: Changes in vaginal epithelium are known to occur during the normal oestrous or menstrual cycle and in ovariectomised animals in response to various hormones. However, vaginal changes due to exogenous gonadotrophins superimposed on the normal hormonal milieu as occurs in in vitro fertilisation programmes have not previously been demonstrated. Female rats were hyperstimulated with follicle stimulating hormone and human chorionic gonadotrophin prior to mating. Control mated animals were not injected. Vaginal tissue was collected at 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5 d after mating. Tissue was processed for light microscopy. Hyperstimulation by the exogenous gonadotrophins caused mucification, a decrease in the number of epithelial layers and an increase in the thickness of the epithelium on d 4.5 of pregnancy. The mitotic index of the epithelial cells was depressed in the hyperstimulated rats with respect to control animals. Exposure to high levels of oestradiol and an altered progesterone:oestradiol ratio appear to have caused the changes in the vaginal epithelium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008940:Mitotic Index / Q000187:drug effects; D009093:Mucus / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013480:Superovulation; D014621:Vagina / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone