Effect of two injectable contraceptive drugs on the ovary and endometrium of the adult female albino rat: histological and immuno-histochemical study

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to determine the histological and immuno-histochemical changes induced in the ovary and endometrium following injection and stoppage of Depot-Provera and Mesigyna, injectable contraceptive drugs. In addition to determine the relation between the proliferative activity of the endometrium and estrogen receptors content of the ovary. Thirty three adult female albino rats were used in this work, which were divided into three groups; the first group [Ia,Ib,Ic] as control. The second group [IIa and IIb] was injected twice with Depot-Provera once/3 weeks then sacrificed after one day and six weeks respectively from the last injection. The third group [IIIa and IIIb], was injected six times with Mesigyna once/week then sacrificed after one day and two weeks respectively from the last injection. The ovaries and uteri of all rats were taken and stained with H and E stain and immuno-histochemical stains. The H and E stained sections of the ovaries in groups IIa and IIIa revealed atresia and degeneration of the growing follicles with few corpora lutea and some cystic dilatations. In group IIb, they still showed some degenerated follicles but in IIIb, some growing follicles and fresh corpora lutea were observed. The endometria of group IIa revealed few, small and quiescent endometrial glands, which were embedded in a highly vascular and edematous stroma.While group IIIa revealed that the endometrial surface was lined partially by pseudostratified epithelial cells. The endometrial glands appeared tubular dilated and embedded in a moderately dense stroma. In group IIb they still showed small and few endometrial glands embedded in a less edematous stroma. However, in group IIIb, the endometrial histology returned to control pattern. The immunohistochemical [SP1] stained sections of the ovaries of group IIa revealed marked decrease of estrogen receptors content, which increased in group IIb, but still less than control level. On contrary, it was apparently increased in group IIIa and then returned to control level in group IIIb. The [Ki-67] stained sections of the endometria of group IIa revealed reduction in the proliferative activity, which still remained lower than control level in group IIb. However, in group IIIa the proliferative activity was increased but returned to the control level in group IIIb. In conclusion, this study clarified that Mesigyna induced less suppressive effects on the ovary and endometrium with an earlier return of their activity than with Depot-Provera. Also, there was an evident direct relationship between the proliferative activity of the endometrium and estrogen receptors content of the ovary