Fertility regulatory potential of Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Delarbre methanolic root extract in female albino mice: An insight into the phytochemicals present and role of the extract in contraception.

People from some parts of the world traditionally depend on different herbal medicines for fertility regulation. The Mishing women of Assam, India have been using the dry root powder of Persicaria hydropiper for years as a birth control medicine. The present study was designed to investigate the chemical composition of methanolic extract from the dry roots of P. hydropiper as well as to study its anti-implantation effect. P. hydropiper roots were collected from paddy fields and the methanolic extract was prepared using dry powdered roots. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) analysis of the methanolic root extract was performed for phytochemical analysis. The estrous cycle of the female mice was monitored by observation of the cells in the vaginal smear. The estrogenic and anti-implantation effect was observed using routine histological procedures with Haematoxylin & Eosin staining performed in mice. Total serum cholesterol level was also measured. The GCMS analysis revealed the presence of stigmasterol and 3-deoxyestradiol, which are known to possess antifertility properties. The extract (1000 mg/kg bodyweight dose) altered the duration and sequence of the estrous cycle of cyclic females with a prolonged metestrous of 2 days, followed by an early estrous. There was hyperplasia in the endometrial epithelium and even shedding of the same on high duration treatment on day 6. There was a significant (p < 0.05) rise in total cholesterol levels in the treated groups. The highest rise was observed in the day 1 group (from 67.91 ± 1.98 to 147.53 ± 3.20 mg/dl) while the lowest change was there in the day 2 group (from 78.76 ± 2.04 to 103.26 ± 2.34 mg/dl). The presence of compounds like stigmasterol and 3-deoxyestradiol with profound antifertility properties possibly has an influence on the molecular pathway for embryo implantation. The changes in uterine histoarchitecture in the form of uterine hyperplasia on treatment with the extract point out towards the effect of the estrogenic compounds. Such implantation preventing results provides support to the traditional belief and opens the door for new drug discovery for reproduction regulation. A detailed molecular study is necessary in this regard.

Effects of fetal hypothyroidism on uterine smooth muscle contraction and structure of offspring rats.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Does fetal hypothyroidism in rats alter uterine contractions and structure in the adult offspring? What is the main finding and its importance? Our study indicated that maternal hypothyroidism during pregnancy increased gestational length and decreased litter size. In addition, maternal hypothyroidism caused delayed puberty onset, irregular uterine contractions and histological changes in the uterus in the female offspring. This model might contribute to a better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in uterine contractions in fetal hypothyroidism, studies which are not possible in humans, and might help to establish therapeutic methods for these disorders observed in uterine contractions. ABSTRACT: Thyroid hormones play an essential role in fetal growth. Hypothyroidism impairs reproductive function in both humans and animals. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of fetal hypothyroidism on uterine smooth muscle contraction and structure in the adult offspring. The control group of female Wistar rats consumed tap water, whereas the hypothyroid group received water containing 0.025% of 6-propyl-2-thiouracial throughout gestation from mating until delivery. Isometric contractility and histological changes in uterine tissue were evaluated in the adult female offspring. We tested the effects of carbachol (10-10 -10-3  m) and oxytocin (10-13 -10-8  m) on uterine smooth muscle contraction in the fetal hypothyroid (FH) and control groups. Compared with control uteri, carbachol induced contractions with lower amplitude in the FH group (area under the curve: 1820.0 ± 250.0 versus 1370.0 ± 125.0 a.u., control versus FH group, respectively, P < 0.001) and frequency (86.4 ± 7.3 versus 37.0 ± 6.1 a.u., P < 0.001). Likewise, after exposure to oxytocin the amplitude (6614.0 ± 492.2 versus 4793.0 ± 735.2 a.u., P < 0.001) and frequency (367.4 ± 32.0 versus 167.0 ± 39.0 a.u., P < 0.001) of uterine contractions in the FH group were significantly lower than in the control group. In addition, the thickness of the endometrium and smooth muscle layer and the cross-sectional area of the uterus were also significantly lower in the FH group. Gestational length was longer and litter size smaller in FH rats compared with control animals; FH offspring also had delayed puberty. In conclusion, thyroid hormone deficiency during pregnancy increased gestational length and decreased litter size; in the offspring, it delayed puberty onset, reduced uterine rhythmic contractions and resulted in uterine structural changes.

Citologia e histologia endometrial em gatas clinicamente saudáveis / Endometrial cytology and histology in clinically healthy cats

Com objetivo de estabelecer valores de referência para a citologia endometrial e avaliar histologicamente o endométrio de gatas clinicamente saudáveis e sem patologias uterinas, foram coletados 22 úteros de gatas que passaram por ovariohisterectomia eletiva. Após avaliação macroscópica dos úteros, coletou-se mostra para citologia endometrial pela técnica de escova endometrial (cytobrush) e fragmento para avaliação histológica. Quanto à apresentação das glândulas endometriais, 31,8% (7/22) das gatas apresentaram lâmina própria com poucas camadas de glândulas tubulares simples, revestidas por epitélio simples cúbico ou cilíndrico baixo, com diâmetro reduzido e sem secreção no seu lúmen. Proliferação glandular com algumas glândulas apresentando conteúdo no lúmen foi observada em 36,4% (8/22) dos animais. Presença de intensa proliferação glandular com glândulas revestidas por epitélio simples pavimentoso, a maioria com atividade secretora, foi observada em 31,8% (7/22) das gatas, sendo que em cinco destas verificou-se aparência cística com pronunciada dilatação glandular. A citologia endometrial, na leitura de 200 células, obteve os seguintes resultados: neutrófilos (10,77 ± 7,51), eosinófilos (1,93 ± 2,67), basófilos (0), linfócitos (6,58 ± 8,49), macrófagos (0,79 ± 2,05) e células de descamação (79,93 ± 11,44). Concluiu-se que em gatas clinicamente saudáveis há maior proporção de leucócitos na citologia endometrial quando comparado com outras espécies, mesmo quando não se evidencia inflamação na avaliação histológica. A colheita de material para citologia endometrial pela técnica de cytobrush apresenta celularidade satisfatória e sem presença de debris celulares em gatas.

This study evaluated the endometrial cytology and histology of clinically healthy cats without any uterine alteration in an attempt to establish reference parameters in dogs. Uteri were collected from 22 cats submitted to elective ovariohysterectomy. All uteri were macroscopically evaluated, after which an endometrial sample was obtained for cytological analysis using the endometrial brush (cytobrush) technique and a tissue fragment routinely processed for histological evaluation. Histological evaluation revealed that the endometrial glands of some 31.8% (7/22) cats consisted of a lamina propria with few layers of simple tubular glands, lined by simple cubical epithelium, with reduced diameter and without luminal secretion. Glandular proliferation with luminal content was observed in 36.4% (8/22) of the animals evaluated. The presence of intense proliferation with glandular glands lined by squamous simple epithelium, most with secretory activity was observed in 31.8% (7/22) of cats; in five of these, there was pronounced cystic glandular dilatation. The endometrial cytology of 200 cells revealed the following results: neutrophils (10.77 ± 7.51), eosinophils (1.93 ± 2.67), basophils (0), lymphocytes (6.58 ± 8.49), monocytes (0.79 ± 2.05), and cell shedding (79.93 ± 11.44). It was concluded that clinically healthy cats have a greater percentage of leukocytes in endometrial cytology when compared with other species, even when there is no evidence of inflammation by histological evaluation. The collection of material for endometrial cytology using the cytobrush technique provides adequate cellularity and without the presence of cellular debris in cats.