title: Ovariectomy increases the phenotypic plasticity of the female prostate epithelium in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus).
abstract: The female prostate is a reproductive gland that typically presents a morphology similar to that of the male gland and is highly developed in female Mongolian gerbils. Two main cell populations compose the epithelium gland: basal and secretory luminal cells. However, during postnatal development, diverse secretory cell phenotypes are distributed among the typical ones. Prostate homeostasis is under the control of sexual hormones, such as oestrogen and progesterone. After hormonal deprivation the female gland undergoes several morphophysiological changes. The objective of this study was to identify and characterise, structurally and ultrastructurally, the cellular heterogeneity of the female prostate epithelium in normal conditions and after ovariectomy. Histological routine stains, such as haematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid-Schiff and silver impregnation, as well as immunocytochemical techniques were used to enable identification of the different cell types. Some secretory cells types were identified and characterised as mucinous, basophil, clear, ciliated, droplet, spumous and neuroendocrine cells. Population tally data showed that the hormonal suppression caused by ovariectomy resulted in a decrease in the proportions of basophil and clear cells and an increase in spumous cells. Thus, the secretory epithelial cells of the female gerbil prostate are not morphologically and functionally uniform, presenting a phenotypical plasticity according to the hormonal environment in which they operate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanatelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana M G
authors.initials: AMG
authors.lastname: Custodio
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Federal University of Goiás, UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manoel F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Biancardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Federal University of Goiás, UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda C A
authors.initials: FCA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rejane M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Góes
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microscopy and Microanalysis, Department of Biology, São Paulo State University, UNESP/IBILCE, R Cristovão Colombo, 2265, 15054-000, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Falleiros
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microscopy and Microanalysis, Department of Biology, São Paulo State University, UNESP/IBILCE, R Cristovão Colombo, 2265, 15054-000, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia S L
authors.initials: PSL
authors.lastname: Vilamaior
authors.affiliation: Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sebastião R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Taboga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004848:Epithelium / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005849:Gerbillinae; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010052:Ovariectomy