The influence of dehydroepiandrosterone on early pregnancy in mice.
The aim of the present report was to study the role of high levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on the ovarian function and embryonic resorption during early pregnancy in BALB/c mice. Pregnant animals were injected with DHEA following both the post-implantatory (DHEA-2) and peri-implantatory (DHEA-6) models. Morphological studies of implantation sites showed 40% of embryonic resorption in the DHEA-2 group while 100% of resorption was observed in the DHEA-6 group. Serum samples of both DHEA-2 and DHEA-6 groups showed higher estradiol levels and a lower progesterone concentration than those of control groups. Ovarian prostaglandin E levels after both DHEA-2 and DHEA-6 treatments increased when compared to control groups. The antioxidant metabolite glutathione diminished during both DHEA treatments. In summary, the data presented here suggest that DHEA treatment during early pregnancy modulates the ovarian function and is responsible for embryonic resorption with different degrees depending on when it is administered.
Sander
Valeria
V
Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, Consejo de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Solano
María Emilia
ME
Elia
Evelin
E
Luchetti
Carolina Griselda
CG
Di Girolamo
Guillermo
G
Gonzalez
Claudio
C
Motta
Alicia B
AB
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000139:chemically induced; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D047108:Embryonic Development; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D005978:Glutathione