title: Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on ovarian cystogenesis and immune function.
abstract: The purpose of the present report was to study the possible relationship between ovarian functionality and the immune response during cystogenesis induced by androgenization with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Daily injection of DHEA (6 mg/kg body weight) for 20 consecutive days induced ovarian cysts in BALB/c mice. As markers of ovarian function, serum estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) and the ovarian inmunomodulator prostaglandin E (PGE) were analyzed. In order to know how the integrity of the tissue was altered after induction of cystogenesis, the oxidative status was also evaluated. Serum E and P levels, and ovarian PGE concentration, were increased in animals with cysts compared with healthy controls. The oxidant status (quantified by malondialdehyde (MDA) formed after the breakdown of the cellular membrane by free radical mechanisms) was augmented, meanwhile the antioxidant (evaluated by the glutathione (GSH) content) diminished during the induction of cystogenesis. Both immunohistochemical and flow cytometry assays demonstrated that DHEA treatment increased the number of T lymphocytes infiltrating ovarian tissue. Therefore, while ovarian controls showed equivalent expression of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets, injection of DHEA yielded a selective ovarian T cell infiltration as demonstrated by enhanced CD8+ and diminished CD4+ T lymphocyte expression. These results show that the development of cysts involves changes in ovarian function and an imbalance in the oxidant-antioxidant equilibrium. We observed also both an increased and selective T lymphocyte infiltration.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiopatología Ovárica, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Serrano 669, C1414DEM Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Carolina Griselda
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Luchetti
authors.forename: Maria Emilia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Solano
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: Maria L Barreiro
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Arcos
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Girolamo
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chiocchio
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cremaschi
authors.forename: Alicia B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Motta
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000276:immunology; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone