non-preventive effects of human menopausal gonadotropins on ovarian tissues in Nandrolone decanoate-treated female rats: a histochemical and ultra-structural study

Background: The follicular growth and development may be affected by abused drugs. Nandrolone decanoate [ND] as an anabolic androgenic steroid can damage the morphological and functional features of the ovary and may lead to reproductive failure

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of synchronized and non-synchronized administration of Human Menopausal Gonadotropins [hMG] with ND on ovarian tissue and level of sex hormones in the adult female rat

Materials and Methods: Forty adult female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into eight groups. The five experimental groups received 3 and/or 10 mg/kg of ND synchronized and non-synchronized with 10 IU of hMG and hMG alone. The two shams and control groups received solvents of ND and hMG. The animals' serum levels of Follicle-stimulating hormone, Luteinizing hormone, progesterone and estrogen and the weight, volume and dimensions of the ovaries were measured. The ovaries were prepared for apoptosis assessment and morphological study

Results: The ovarian volume and sex hormones in the experimental groups were decreased, but ovarian weight and dimensions didn't change. The rate of apoptosis was increased in the experimental groups as follows; a low and high dose of ND synchronized with hMG 48.80+/-18.70 and 65.20+/-14.20 respectively vs. Sham 1, 33.20+/-17.80, a low and high dose of ND non-synchronized with hMD 55.80+/-17.20 and 75.20+/-14.30 respectively vs. Sham 2, 31.60+/-32.40 groups, p>/=0.01. Follicular and stromal cells were damaged in the experimental groups except for the hMG group

Conclusion: Administration of ND decreased the serum level of Luteinizing hormone, Follicle-stimulating hormone, progesterone and estrogen and damaged ovarian tissue irreversibly and irreparably and hMG cannot prevent the destruction of the follicles in the adult female rats. This can be a serious warning to women who abuse ND

Effects of pentoxifylline on the histological and ultrastructural features of vitrified mouse ovarian tissue

Background: Vitrification is a process that can be used to preserve gonads in the healthy and natural status. Oxidative stress is one of the disadvantages of vitrification. Pentoxifylline [PTX] is an antioxidant that can reduce reactive

oxidative stress effects

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of PTX on histological and ultrastructural features of vitrified and non-vitrified mouse ovarian tissue

Materials and Methods: Twenty-five adult female Balb-C mice were randomly and equally divided into control group: the ovaries did not receive any treatment; experimental 1 and 2: the vitrified ovaries were incubated in phosphate buffer solution and bovine serum albumin without and with PTX, respectively, for 30 min; sham 1 and 2: the non-vitrified ovaries were incubated in phosphate buffer solution and bovine serum albumin and were incubated without and with PTX, respectively for 30 min. The right and left ovaries in all of the groups were evaluated using light and transmission electron microscopy, respectively

Results: The histological and ultra-structural features of vitrified ovaries were seriously damaged. There was non-uniformed germinal epithelium and tunica albuginea, degenerated granulosa cells and stromal cells, puffy basement membrane and irregular thickness of zona pellucida, as well as a pyknotic nucleus and bubbly and segmented ooplasmic in the follicles. Also, ovarian tissues were damaged by the PTX in the non-vitrified ovaries

Conclusion: Vitrification can damage the histological and ultra-structural features of the ovary in mouse models. PTX as an antioxidant, with concentration of 1.8 mM could not prevent and restore these damages and had no adequate effects on the vitrified ovarian tissues

Fine structures of the oocyte in relation to serum, follicular fluid steroid hormones and IGF-I in the ovulatory-sized follicles in one-humped camel [camelus dromedarius]

The following study was carried out to determine the ultrastructural features of the oocyte of the ovulatory-sized follicles in relation to concentrations of steroids and IGF-I in the follicular fluid and serum in the dromedary camel. Camel follicles with a clear and healthy appearance were categorized into three classes: follicles 10 to 13.9, 14-17.9 and 18-30 mm diameter. The Follicular Fluid [FF] and serum samples were assayed for estradiol-17 beta, progesterone and IGF-I. Recovered Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes [COCs] were prepared for transmission electron microscopy. The mean [ +/- SD] FF concentrations of progesterone and IGF-I was significantly [p<0.05] higher in follicles 18 to 30 mm diameter compared to other groups of follicles. There was no difference in the mean [ +/- SD] serum estradiol-17 beta, progesterone and IGF-I concentrations between camels with different ovulatory-sized follicles [p>0.05]. Oocytes from follicles 18 to 30 mm diameter [group 3] showed more advanced signs of maturation including the disappearance of the nuclear envelope, increased number of microvilli in erect position, the increase in number and size of vesicles and more even distribution of the mitochondria throughout the ooplasm. The final stages of oocyte maturation in dromedary camel is associated with increasing progesterone and IGF-I concentrations and constant high estradiol concentration in the follicular fluid which are paralleled with well-defined ultrastructural changes in oocytes

Modulatory effect of gonadotropins on rats' ovaries after nandrolone decanoate administration: a stereological study

Background: Nandrolone decanoate [ND] is an anabolic androgenic steroid [AAS] which influences the ovarian structure and function. We assessed the effects of ND on the ovarian volume, number of primordial follicles, and level of hormones and also evaluated the modulatory effects of gonadotropins on the histopathological changes imposed by the administration of ND

Methods: Six groups of Sprague-Dawley adult female rats [n=30] were used. The experimental rats were injected intraperitoneally with 3 and 10 mg/kg ND with or without human menopausal gonadotropin [hMG], 10 IU weekly for one month. The vehicle and control rats were administered olive oil and saline, respectively, for the same period of time. The ovarian volume and number of primordial follicles were estimated by stereological methods

Results: The results showed a decrease in the ovarian volume, number of primordial follicles, and level of gonadotropins in the ND-treated animals compared with the vehicle groups. In the rats treated with 3 mg/kg of ND with hMG, an increase in the ovarian volume and number of primordial follicles was shown as compared to the rats treated with the same dose of ND without hMG

Conclusion: ND exerted detrimental effects on the dimensions of the ovary, number of follicles, and level of sex hormones. However, hMG, prevented the harmful effects of ND [at least in a low dose] on the ovarian follicles

Stereological study of the effects of letrozole and estradiol valerate treatment on the ovary of rats / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: Letrozole and estradiol valerate are used to treat some hormonally-responsive symptoms and also in modeling of the polycystic ovary syndrome. However, the stereological analysis of the ovary has received less attention. Estimation of the whole ovary volume using the Cavalieri method can be applied in any orientation desired, but estimation of the mean volume of the oocytes requires isotropic uniform random sectioning. Here, a combined method was developed for estimating the parameters. To our knowledge, no comparison has been made of the effects of letrozole and estradiol on the ovary. METHODS: Sixty rats were divided into 4 groups receiving estradiol (4 mg/kg), olive oil, letrozole (1 mg/kg), or normal saline. After 21 days, their ovaries were studied. RESULTS: Relative to the control group, the total volume of the ovary and the cortex increased in the letrozole-treated and estradiol-treated rats. In addition, the number of the preantral, antral, and granulosa cells decreased by 43% to 56% in the letrozole- and estradiol-treated rats. On average, a 19% increase was observed in the atretic oocytes of the letrozole-treated and estradiol-treated rats, but the mean oocyte volume decreased by 29% to 44% in letrozole- and estradiol-treated rats. Furthermore, the letrozole-treated rats showed a 5-fold and 7-fold increase in the volume of the cysts and corpus luteum, respectively. A 3-fold increase was found in the volume of both the cysts and corpus luteum in the estradiol group. CONCLUSION: The structural changes of the ovary were most pronounced in the letrozole-treated animals.