Fine structure of prolactin cell of female albino rat as affected by some antifertility drugs--a comparative electron microscopic study.

One antioestrogenic compound as well as some antifertility drugs have been administered to female albino rats over a period of six months to study their long term effects on fine structures in PRL cell. Almost in all the cases, the dynamics of hormone synthesis and secretion have been affected. Fine structure is suggestive of activation of synthetic machinery of the cell. The cell picture under the estradiol valerate regimen presents a transitional stage progressing towards involution due to accelerated cell cycle. Sparse granulation, frequent granule extrusion and misplaced exocytosis under the influence of tamoxifen citrate or levonorgestrel + ethinyloestradiol are similar to those observed in adenomatous PRL cell. Fine structural correlates of stepped up synthesis are also observed following chronic progesterogenic influences of progesterone and norethisterone heptanoate, but the magnitude of the change is on a lower scale. All the fine structural changes have been discussed in the context of ultrastructural pathology.

Effect of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and testosterone ananthate on the testis of albino rats: ultrastructural and biochemical studies.

Male albino rats were treated with depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (1 mg/animal/day) + testosterone ananthate (100 micrograms/100 g body weight/day) for 30 and 60 days. After 30 days of treatment, all the testicular enzymes like beta-glucuronidase, hyaluronidase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatase, registered non-significant decrease in their values. Fifty percent of the treated animals achieved sterility after 30 days of treatment. After 60 days of treatment the testis showed degenerative changes in Golgi phase and late spermatids. Changes in the Golgi phase spermatids were related with degeneration of the nuclear membrane. Changes in the late phase spermatids included mitochondrial hypertrophy of the midpieces, membrane lysis, absence of cristae and degeneration of annulus leading to detachment of tail. Cytoplasm of luminal area displayed hypertrophied mitochondria devoid of cristae, prominent appearance of Golgi bodies, intense lysosomal activity and ample vacuolation. Tail fragments of degenerated spermatids prevailed in luminal cytoplasm. Except for beta-glucuronidase which registered a significant decrease, levels of all the other testicular enzymes, viz. hyaluronidase, lactate dehydrogenase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase were within their control limits. The ultrastructural and biochemical changes are correlated.

Effect of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate on testis of albino rats: ultrastructural and biochemical studies.

Testis of male albino rats treated with depot medroxyprogesterone acetate DMPA, at the dose of 1 mg/animal/day for 60 days showed degenerative changes in the late spermatids. The changes were related with the mitochondrial sheath of the midpiece, including the plasma membrane enclosing the mitochondria and the mitochondrial cristae. Except lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase, all the testicular marker enzymes, viz. beta-glucuronidase, hyaluronidase, sorbitol dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase registered a significant decrease. The ultrastructural and biochemical changes are correlated, as the cellular degeneration is responsible for decrease in the activity of the marker enzymes.

Effect of gossypol on pituitary reproductive axis: ultrastructural and biochemical studies.

Oral administration of gossypol induced sterility in male rats by 10 weeks, at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight/day. The pituitary FSH gonadotroph cells showed dilated endoplasmic reticulum and accumulation of secretory granules in the cytoplasm. LH cells were degranulated. The Leydig cells showed enhanced synthetic activity. There was no change in testis weight and testicular RNA, lipids and cholesterol in the treated group while significant increase was observed in DNA content. Testicular sialic acid content decreased significantly over controls. The Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and early spermatids were not affected after the treatment. The weights of prostate, seminal vesicle were recorded normal and there were no ultrastructural variations. The levels of acid and alkaline phosphatase and RNA in prostatic tissue were insignificant as compared with controls. However, DNA content of prostate gland showed a significant increase. Sialic acid of seminal vesicle + coagulating gland were within the control range. A marked reduction in fructose values from the same organ was noted.

Effect of cyproterone acetate on testis of albino rats: ultrastructural and biochemical approach.

The animals were treated with cyproterone acetate (1 mg/100 g body weight) for 60 days after which the testicular tissue was studied at the ultrastructural level to determine the stage at which the effect took place and to study the magnitude of the effect. The testis showed changes in Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, germ cells and in the spermatids. To correlate these changes, important marker enzymes and other biochemical parameters essential for spermatogenesis were studied after 30 days and 60 days of the treatment. They registered a decrease in their levels as compared with the controls.

Effect of gossypol on few testicular enzymes in mature rats.

Effect of oral administration of gossypol acetic acid (15 mg/kg/day) for 10 weeks, on certain enzymes, which may be taken as markers for the different stages of spermatogenesis, was studied in male albino rats. Gossypol produced a significant decrease in hyaluronidase and sorbitol dehydrogenase, while no change was observed in beta-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase. A significant increase in the total lactate dehydrogenase activity was observed in the testis. The possible significance of these findings is discussed.

Ultrastructural and biochemical changes in epididymis and vas deferens of gossypol treated rats.

Adult male Wister rats when administered with 15 mg/kg body weight/day of gossypol acetic acid proved to be sterile by 10 weeks of treatment. The weight of the whole epididymis did not deviate from the controls but when the caput, corpus and cauda epididymidis were considered separately, the cauda epididymidis weight was significantly reduced. The major changes were observed in the motor apparatus of the sperm. The most common defects in the sperm were the vacuolization and complete degeneration of the midpiece mitochondria and plasma membrane. The total LDH activity of caput and cauda epididymidis were within the range of control values. Sialic acid levels of the epididymis were not affected after the treatment. These results suggest a more proximal site of action of the drug than at the epididymal level.