Long-term melatonin treatment reduces ovarian mass and enhances tissue antioxidant defenses during ovulation in the rat

Melatonin regulates the reproductive cycle, energy metabolism and may also act as a potential antioxidant indoleamine. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether long-term melatonin treatment can induce reproductive alterations and if it can protect ovarian tissue against lipid peroxidation during ovulation. Twenty-four adult female Wistar rats, 60 days old (± 250-260 g), were randomly divided into two equal groups. The control group received 0.3 mL 0.9 percent NaCl + 0.04 mL 95 percent ethanol as vehicle, and the melatonin-treated group received vehicle + melatonin (100 µg·100 g body weight-1·day-1) both intraperitoneally daily for 60 days. All animals were killed by decapitation during the morning estrus at 4:00 am. Body weight gain and body mass index were reduced by melatonin after 10 days of treatment (P < 0.05). Also, a marked loss of appetite was observed with a fall in food intake, energy intake (melatonin 51.41 ± 1.28 vs control 57.35 ± 1.34 kcal/day) and glucose levels (melatonin 80.3 ± 4.49 vs control 103.5 ± 5.47 mg/dL) towards the end of treatment. Melatonin itself and changes in energy balance promoted reductions in ovarian mass (20.2 percent) and estrous cycle remained extensive (26.7 percent), arresting at diestrus. Regarding the oxidative profile, lipid hydroperoxide levels decreased after melatonin treatment (6.9 percent) and total antioxidant substances were enhanced within the ovaries (23.9 percent). Additionally, melatonin increased superoxide dismutase (21.3 percent), catalase (23.6 percent) and glutathione-reductase (14.8 percent) activities and the reducing power (10.2 percent GSH/GSSG ratio). We suggest that melatonin alters ovarian mass and estrous cyclicity and protects the ovaries by increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione-reductase activities.

Effects of experimental chronic alcoholism on the seminal vesicle and testis weigh of adult rats (rattus norvegicus)

Fueron estudiados los efectos del alcoholismo crónico experimental en el peso de las glándulas sexuales accesorias y en el peso del testículo. Ratas albinas adultas recibieron solamente aguardiente de caña de 30º Gay Lussac (v/v), mientras los controles recibieron agua del grifo. Después de 60, 120, 180 y 240 días de tratamiento las ratas de cada grupo fueron anestesiadas, pesadas y sacrificadas. Fueron registrados: alteraciones en el consumo de ración diario y consumo líquido, aumento de peso medio diario, peso medio de la próstata, de la vesícula seminal, de las glándulas de coagulación y peso del testículo. El alcoholismo crónico experimental afecto al peso tanto de las vesículas seminales, como de los testículos, ocasionando una reducción de ellos, recuperándose éstos órganos 240 días posterior a la suspensión de la administración del alcohol

Ultrastructural study of the coagulating gland epithelium of the rat (Rattus norvegicus) after vasectomy

Las alteraciones morfológicas de la glándula de coagulación de las ratas vasectomizadas, fueron observadas utilizando microscopía de luz y microscopía electrónica de transmisión. Los resultados demostraron disminución en la altura del epitelio secretor. Observaciones ultraestructurales mostraron atrofia de las cisternas del retículo endoplasmático granular