title: Testis morphology in rats chronically treated with letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the long-term treatment of rats with letrozole on the testis morphology. The pharmacologically induced estrogen deficiency caused statistically significant decreases of both intratesticular and serum levels of estradiol, and morphological changes in the seminiferous epithelium and in the interstitial tissue of the testes. Six months of treatment resulted in the sloughing of premature germ cells of the seminiferous epithelium into the tubular lumen and in intraepithelial vacuolization. Multinucleated giant cells composed of premature germ cells, conglomerates of various cell nuclei and cell debris as well as irregularities and infoldings of the tubular basement membrane were also seen. Moreover, deep invaginations of the lamina propria with myoid cells were observed. Cells in the interstitial tissue showed changes similar to that observed in aging processes. The cytoplasm of LH-R-positive Leydig cells was loaded with lipofuscin granules. The number of lipofuscin-loaded cells was significantly increased in the interstitial tissue of testis in letrozole-treated rats. The results indicate the direct influence of estrogens on seminiferous tubules and the interstitial tissue morphology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Poland. anna_kondarewicz@wp.pl
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kondarewicz
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kolasa
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zawiślak
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baranowska-Bosiacka
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marchlewicz
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wenda-Różewicka
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiszniewska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077289:Letrozole; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D000077289:Letrozole; D001141:Aromatase