Effect of gonadectomy on HCC development in HBV transgenic mice.
OBJECTIVE
Epidemiological data demonstrate that HCC is prevalent in men compared to women. Herein, we examined the effect of gonadectomy in a murine model that spontaneously develops HCC.


METHODS
Thirty-two male and 26 female HBV transgenic mice [Tg (Alb-1 HBV) Bri 44] underwent surgical castration or sham operation. At the 18th month, serum samples were collected and all mice were sacrificed. Liver weight and volume were evaluated, each liver was cut into 1.5-mm-thick consecutive slices and nodules were examined on freshly isolated tissue. Consecutive histological sections obtained from each liver slice were evaluated to confirm the diagnosis of HCC.


RESULTS
Sham-operated females showed a significantly lower neoplastic growth compared to sham-operated males. This difference disappeared when females underwent gonadectomy. In males, neoplastic growth was not influenced by gonadectomy. Testosterone and estradiol levels were profoundly modified by gonadectomy in both males and females. The testosterone/estradiol ratio in gonadectomized females increased 4.5-fold compared to that in sham-operated females, becoming more similar to the ratio observed in castrated and sham-operated male mice.


CONCLUSIONS
HCC growth in our experimental model was not simply influenced by the levels of testosterone or estradiol, taken singularly, but depended on their ratio.
Barone
M
M
Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), University of Bari, Ospedale Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Maiorano
E
E
Scavo
M P
MP
Panella
E
E
Castellaneta
A
A
Napoli
A
A
Francioso
D
D
Di Leo
A
A
Francavilla
A
A
D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002369:Castration; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009929:Organ Size; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol