Gold and Female Reproductive Organs: an Ultrastructural Study.

Gold, a heavy yellow-colored metal, is usually found in nature as a metallic element or as salts. This noble metal historically had a reputation as an anti-inflammatory medicine for rheumatoid arthritis, a nervine, and a remedy for nervous disorders, as well as a potential anticancer agent. It has also been used as component in dental restorations and in implant materials. The present study was undertaken to point out histological and ultrastructural effects of gold, administered by intraperitoneal route, in pregnant female reproductive organs (ovary and uterus), in order to clarify its side effects on the reproductive function. Using the transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the ultrastructural investigations of both ultrathin ovarian and uterine sections of treated pregnant rats revealed the existence of numerous heterogeneous clusters with very electron-dense inclusions characterized by various aspects in the lysosomes of granulosa, theca interna cells, and theca externa cells. Degeneration of these tissues, like cell vacuolization, marked expansion of the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrial alterations, and necrotic foci, were also highlighted. Moreover, huge phagolysosomes and high numbers of eosinophils as signs of inflammation were also identified especially in endometrial and myometrial cells of gold-treated rats. The ultrastructural investigations of reproductive organ sections of control pregnant rats showed a normal ultrastructural aspect and no loaded lysosomes. These results speculated the toxicity of gold at the used dose. The observed signs of toxicity allowed concluding that the important role of lysosome in the sequestration of this element under an insoluble form in all categories of cells in the studied tissues does not seem to be efficient.

Toxicological effects and ultrastructural changes induced by lanthanum and cerium in ovary and uterus of Wistar rats.

Rare earths have been widely used in a huge number of areas in industry and medicine. Therefore, they exist in the environment and possibly accumulated within the human body. However their effects in the living organism particularly in the female reproductive system are still unclear. In this work, the subcellular behavior of lanthanum and cerium was investigated through the Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), in different territories of the reproductive system of Wistar rats exposed intraperitoneally to soluble solution of these elements during 2 weeks. Ultrastructural investigations of ultrathin sections from uterus and ovary of treated rats revealed the existence of inclusions with high electron density and heterogeneous aspects in the lysosomes of uterus and ovary cells. Many disruptions of architecture were observed, accompanied with several changes like vacuolations, significant expansion of the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrial alterations and necrotic cells, demonstrating the toxicity of these elements with doses used. Phagolysosomes as well as eosinophils were also seen. Our experimental investigations revealed no intralysosomal inclusions in ultrathin sections of the uterus and ovary of pregnant control females. The original mechanism implicated in this insolubilization-concentration phenomenon of these elements, as non-soluble phosphate form, in the lysosomes is a biochemical one involving intralysosomal hydrolytic enzymes, the acid phosphatase.