Pregnancy and dexamethasone: effects on morphometric parameters of gonadotropic cells in rats.
The effects of pregnancy and multiple dexamethasone (Dx) treatment on morphometric parameters of adenohypophyseal gonadotropic cells that produce follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were investigated in female Wistar rats. The rats in the experimental group received injections of 1.0, 0.5 and 0.5mg Dx/kg b.w. on days 16-18 of pregnancy, while the control group received equal volumes of saline. There was also an age-matched adult virgin control group. The experimental and control animals were sacrificed 24 and 72h after the last injection. Using the peroxidase-anti-peroxidase immunohistochemical labeling procedure, morphometric analyses showed that cell volume and volume density of FSH and LH cells on day 19 of pregnancy, as well as the number of LH cells, were significantly decreased compared to the virgin control values. On day 21 of gestation, the volume of FSH and LH cells remained smaller than in the virgin controls. Moreover, FSH and LH cell volume was significantly decreased 24h after multiple Dx treatment in comparison with the pregnant controls. Thus, during the last days of pregnancy, the morphometric parameters of gonadotropic cells decreased in comparison with the control virgin rats, but Dx treatment of pregnant rats had an inhibitory influence on FSH and LH cell size only 24h after the last dose.
Negić
Natasa
N
Institute for Biological Research Sinisa Stanković, Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia. negicn@ibiss.bg.ac.yu
Nestorović
Natasa
N
Manojlović-Stojanoski
Milica
M
Filipović
Branko
B
Sosić-Jurjević
Branka
B
Trifunović
Svetlana
S
Milosević
Verica
V
Sekulić
Milka
M
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D015415:Biomarkers; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone