Effects of chronic restraint stress in the prostate of prepubertal and adult rats

Purpose: To investigate the effects of chronic stress in the prostate of prepubertal and adult rats. Methods: Thirty-two male rats were assigned into four groups depending on the type of treatment (control or stressed) and the age at which stress was initiated (prepubertal or adult). Restraint stress stimuli were applied for six weeks. Stressed prepubertal and adult rats evaluated immediately after the last stress stimuli were named SP and SA groups, respectively. Age-matched rats were used as control groups (CP and CA). At the end of the experiment, the rats were euthanized, and prostate morphological parameters were evaluated and statistically compared. Results: Application of stress stimuli to the SP group resulted in reduced body weight, but no prostate morphological modification was noted. The SA group showed reduced testosterone level and prostatic epithelium surface density, in comparison to CA group. Further, the prostatic lumen surface density was increased in adult stressed animals, in comparison to adult controls. Conclusions: The stress stimuli promoted changes in hormonal and morphological parameters in the prostate of adult stressed rats. Prepubertal stressed animals did not presented modifications of prostate morphology.

Effects of nandrolone decanoate on femur morphology. Experimental study

ABSTRACT Purpose To evaluate the immediate and late effects of nandrolone on femur morphology of rats. Methods Twenty-eight animals with 20 weeks of age were divided into four groups: C28, control animals that were euthanized eight weeks after the experiment started; C40, control animals euthanized 20 weeks after the experiment started; T28, treated animals receiving nandrolone during eight weeks and euthanized immediately after the treatment period; and T40, animals treated during eight weeks and euthanized 12 weeks after the end of the treatment. Treated animals received nandrolone decanoate during eight weeks and control groups received peanut oil by intramuscular injection. After euthanasia, femurs were removed, dissected, weighted and measured by digital pachymeter. Results The T40 group presented an increase on distal epiphysis diameter when compared to C40 group. There was no difference between treated and control groups in relation to body and femur absolute weight, relative weight and length of femur. There was also no difference in relation to diameter of proximal epiphysis and diameter of diaphysis among the groups. Conclusions Nandrolone decanoate does not produce significant effect on femur, exception on its distal extremity at late period. The effects of such drug may depend on the time after administration.