title: Effects of metformin on the adrenal cortex of androgenized rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the sex steroid profile and histomorphometry of the adrenal cortical zones of androgenized rats (wistar) with polycystic ovary syndrome treated with metformin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty animals were divided into three groups: GC (regular estrous cycle), GPE (permanent estrus), and GPEM (permanent estrus + metformin 28 mg/kg for 50 days). At the end of this period, blood was collected for hormone measurement. The width of the adrenal cortical zones and the nuclear volumes were analyzed by histomorphometry. The ANOVA test was used in the statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The adrenal glands of the androgenized animals were larger and more intensely vascularized than those of the other groups. The concentration of androstenedione in GPE was higher than that in the other groups (0.4 ± 0.1*>= 0.2 ± 0.1 = 0.2 ± 01, *p < 0.05). The width of the zona glomerulosa and of the zona reticularis and their nuclear volumes were greater in GPE compared to those of the other groups (GPE* > GPEM = GC, *p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metformin treatment may decrease the serum levels of androstenedione as well as the width and the nuclear volumes of the zona glomerulosa and of the zona reticularis in androgenized animals.
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Morfologia e Genética, Disciplina de Histologia e Biologia Estrutural , Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP , São Paulo , Brazil .
authors.forename: Lilian Alves
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Morfologia e Genética, Disciplina de Histologia e Biologia Estrutural , Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP , São Paulo , Brazil .
authors.forename: Adriana Aparecida Ferraz
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Carbonel
authors.affiliation: b Departamento de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia , Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo - USP , São Paulo , Brazil , and.
authors.forename: Ricardo Santos
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.affiliation: b Departamento de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia , Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo - USP , São Paulo , Brazil , and.
authors.forename: Luiz Fernando Portugal
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.affiliation: b Departamento de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia , Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo - USP , São Paulo , Brazil , and.|c Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
authors.forename: Vinicius Cestari
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: do Amaral
authors.affiliation: c Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Simoncini
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Morfologia e Genética, Disciplina de Histologia e Biologia Estrutural , Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP , São Paulo , Brazil .
authors.forename: Manuel Jesus Santos
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.affiliation: b Departamento de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia , Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo - USP , São Paulo , Brazil , and.
authors.forename: Edmund Chada
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Baracat
authors.affiliation: b Departamento de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia , Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo - USP , São Paulo , Brazil , and.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maria Soares
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D043343:Testosterone Propionate
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000735:Androstenedione; D008687:Metformin; D043343:Testosterone Propionate
keywords: Adrenal glands; hyperandrogenism; metformin; morphology; rats