Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on the uterine stroma of peripubertal rats

BRACHO GS; KASS L; ALTAMIRANO GA; MUÑOZ-DE-TORO M; LUQUE EH; BOSQUIAZZO VERÓNICA L

Buenos Aires

Congreso; REUNIÓN CONJUNTA DE SOCIEDADES DE BIOCIENCIAS; 2017

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Clínica

In a previous study we have shown an increase of the subepithelial stroma and myometrium thickness associated with a decrease in cell density in the uterus of hyperandrogenized rats. Here, we investigate aquaporin (AQP) expression, collagen content and cell proliferation of the uterine subepithelial stroma and myometrium in androgenized peripubertal rats. Wistar rats were injected sc with sesame oil (control group) or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) 6 mg/100 g body weight from postnatal day 21 for 20 consecutive days to induce hyperandrogenism. Before sacrifice, the animals received an ip injection of Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU, 6 mg/100 g body weight). One uterine horn was frozen in liquid nitrogen and used to evaluate the mRNA expression of AQP1 to 9 by quantitative real-time PCR. The other uterine horn was fixed in 10% buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin for histological studies. Collagen content was measured as integrated optical density (IOD) using picrosirius red staining and polarization microscopy. Cell proliferation was evaluated by determining BrdU incorporation by immunohistochemistry. The uterus of control rats expressed AQPs 1-5 and 7-9. In the DHEA group, AQP3 and 8 expressions were increased while AQP7 expression was decreased, compared to controls rats. Collagen content was increased in both the subepithelial stroma (control: 1392±251 vs DHEA: 4055±341; p