ROLE OF ALLOPREGNANOLONE IN THE MOR- PHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE RAT OVARY

ANTONELLA R. R. CÁCERES; PELEGRINA, LAURA T; ASENSIO JOANA; PARBORELL, FERNANDA; LACONI MYRIAM

Mar del plata, Buenos Aires

Congreso; Reunión Conjunta 2016 entre la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Clínica (SAIC), la Sociedad Argentina de Inmunología (SAI) y la Sociedad Argentina de Farmacología Experimental (SAFE); 2016

Sociedad Argentina de Farmacología Experimental (SAFE)

Allopregnanolone (ALLO), a progesterone metabolite, is a neurosteroid synthesized de novo inthe nervous system. ALLO i.c.v reduces LH secretion, increase progesterone and prolactinserum levels, inhibit corpora lutea apoptosis, alters follicular steroidogenesis and impairsovulation. It also modifies ovarian angiogenesis, which takes place cyclically in the ovary and isessential for follicular and luteal development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect ofa pharmacological dose of ALLO, using a new administration model (intrabursa), on ovarianmorphophysiology, vascular development and stability.A dose/response curve of 5 points was performed. The results presented correspond to thepharmacological dose of 6 µM. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were used. On the morning ofproestrus, vehicle and ALLO were administered at 5 µl intrabursa. The animals were sacrificedduring the morning of estrus, 24 h after treatment. To assess vascular density and stability,immunohistochemistry for the von Willebrand factor (present in endothelial cells) and α-actin(present in smooth muscle cells of blood vessels) was performed. For the ovarian structuresmorphometric analysis, histological sections were made. Oocyte count was performed bypuncturing the ovarian ampulla.ALLO caused a significant increase of angiogenesis, measured as an elevation in the detectionof the VW factor (p <0.001) and of the α-actin protein (p <0.05). It also induced a significantincrease in the number of atretic follicles (p <0.001) and the formation of cystic follicular entities.In this model, the treatment did not alter ovulation unlike previous findings with the model i.c.v.Also, a significant increase in the diameter of the corpora lutea (p <0.05) of treated animals wasfound.We can conclude that ALLO, at this concentration, alters follicular and luteal development aswell as ovarian angiogenesis. ALLO is a molecule candidate to be used as a new therapeuticalternative for ovarian disease.