Effects of prepubertal exposure to androgens on histofunctional development of the rat uterus

BRACHO GS, ; WAIGANDT C,; ALTAMIRANO GA,; KASS L,; MUÑOZ-DE-TORO M,; LUQUE EH,; , BOSQUIAZZO VL

Congreso; LXISociedad Argentina de Investigación Clínica (SAIC); 2016

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disease that can affect women at a reproductive age. It is characterized for anovulation, hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovaries. PCOS is associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer and fertility problems. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of hyperandrogenism on the histofunctional development of the rat uterus. To induce PCOS, Wistar rats were injected sc with sesame oil (control group) or Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA, 6 mg/100 g body weight) from postnatal day 21 (PND21) to PND41. Previously to the sacrifice, the animals received an ip injection of Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU, 6mg/100 g body weight). The uterine horns were dissected and included in paraffin. The thickness of the subepithelial and myometrial stroma as well as the density of the uterine glands and the nuclei density of the subepithelial and stromal compartments were evaluated in the histological sections. BrdU incorporation and androgen receptor (AR) expression were also quantified in all uterine compartments. The DHEA group showed an increment in the subepithelial (control: 238.30±74.21um; DHEA: 153.30±32.86um; p