title: Effects of raloxifene on the mammary epithelium of female rats in persistent estrus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphological and morphometric alterations produced by raloxifene in the mammary epithelium of female rats in persistent estrus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one female Wistar-Hannover rats in persistent estrus induced by 1.25 mg of testosterone propionate were randomly divided into two groups: Group I (n = 10), receiving only water and used as control; Group II (experimental, n = 11), treated with 3 mg of raloxifene daily for 21 days. The first abdominoinguinal pair of mammary glands was extirpated and processed for morphological and morphometric evaluation. The data were statistically analysed using Student's t-test (p < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphology revealed signs of epithelial atrophy, and morphometry showed a significant reduction in the mean number of ducts and alveoli in the experimental group (12.82 +/- 0.42 and 2.91 +/- 0.53, respectively) when compared with the control group (28.70 +/- 1.15 and 7.20 +/- 0.57, respectively). This difference was statistically significant, both for the ducts and for the alveoli (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results indicate that, at the dose and during the time of treatment used, raloxifene induced atrophy of the mammary epithelium of rats in persistent estrus.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Morphology, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ludmila T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.forename: Benedito B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: da Silva