Effect of Lepidium sativum on the structure of the urinary bladder in experimentally menopaused albino rats

ABSTRACT

Lower urinary tract dysfunction with increased frequency and urgency of urination as well as incontinence is a major cause of reduced quality of life in postmenopausal women. Using hormone replacement therapy containing estrogen alone may subject these women to increased risk for endometrial cancer. The aim of this study was to verify the effect of the aqueous extract of Lepidium sativum on the structure of urinary bladder of albino rats to test whether hormonal therapy in postmenopausal women could be replaced with natural compounds with possibly similar effects. Thirty adult virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups Rats in group I were subjected to a sham operation, given plain water, and served as controls. Rats in group II were subjected to bilateral ovariectomy [menopausal group]. In group III, the ovariectomized rats were treated with aqueous extract of L. sativum [dose of 20 mg/kg body weight] by gastric gavage for 3 weeks. Histological, morphometric, and immunohistochemical studies were conducted. H and E-stained sections of group II revealed detachment and disruption of the urothelium. Signs of apoptosis and widening of intercellular spaces were also detected. Pale staining muscle fibers with significant decrease in the area percentage of immunohistochemically stained desmin was noticed. Moreover, significant increase in the area percentage of collagen fibers, together with perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration, was observed. In comparison to group II, group III showed partial improvement of the urothelium. Masson's trichrome-stained sections revealed decrease in collagen fiber area in comparison with group II. The immunohistochemically stained desmin revealed significant increase in intensity and area percentage compared with group II. L. sativum seeds have promising effects on partial improvement of the altered structure of the mucosa and smooth muscle of the urinary bladder in ovariectomized rats. Further ultrastructural and physiological studies on the contractile ability of detrusor muscles under the effect of other doses of L. sativum are recommended. In addition, the use of other doses of L. sativum may lead to further improvement in the results: