Analysis of the expression of steroid hormone receptors in ovarian follicles of rats whit cystic ovarian disease induced by Letrozo

ZURVARRA FM,; SALVETTI NR,; BARAVALLE C,; ORTEGA HH

Buenos Aires. Argentina.

Congreso; II Reunión Científica Regional. I Congreso Nacional de la Asociación Argentina de Ciencia y Tecnología de Animales de Laboratorio; 2007

Asoc. Arg. de Ciencia y Tecnolog. de Anim. de Laboratorio/Soc de Medicina Veterinaria. Fed. Sudamericana de Asoc. de Anim. de Laboratorio. International Council for Laboratory Animals

Ovarian cysts are persistent anovulatory follicular structures in the absence of a corpus luteum, which spontaneously occur in several animal species (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs and rodents) and human. One of the possible causes of the development of the disease could be the lack of ovulation; and this is regulated by steroid hormones and theirs receptors. Cystic ovarian disease (COD) can be induced in rats being this an adequate model for the study of different aspects of its patho-physiology. In the present study we analyze the changes in the expression of steroid hormone receptors that occurs in ovarian follicles of rats with COD induced by Letrozol. Fifteen rats were treated with Letrozol by gavage during 21 days. Females of the same age were used as controls.The animals were sacrificed and the ovaries were processed by histological techniques. Four mm thick sections were subjected at immunohistochemical methods for detect estrogen receptors (ER-alfa, ER-beta) and progesterone receptors (PR). A decrease in the expression of these receptors in the granulosa cells of cystic ovaries in comparison with growing follicles of control ovaries was observed. The decrease in the expression of these receptors could be due to alterations in the gonadotrophic hormones secretion and this could play a role in this disease characterized by altered ovulation.