Morphofunctional study of the effects of fetal exposure to cyproterone acetate on the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis of adult rats

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_E12377C82285
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Morphofunctional study of the effects of fetal exposure to cyproterone acetate on the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis of adult rats
Journal
Experimental Brain Research
Author(s)
Rossi  G. L., Bestetti  G. E., Reymond  M. J., Lemarchand-Beraud  T.
ISSN
0014-4819
Publication state
Published
Issued date
1991
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
83
Number
2
Pages
349-56
Notes
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Abstract
Fetal exposure to cyproterone acetate (CPA), while allowing, normal sexual morphogenesis, has previously been shown to lead to functional endocrine abnormalities in adult rats of both sexes. Because of this, we examined morphologically and morphometrically the hypothalamic nuclei involved in sexual dimorphism as well as the pituitary lactotropes of rats exposed in utero from day 15 to 20 of gestation to CPA. Male and female offspring was studied at the age of 70-80 days. In both sexes the brain weight was lower (p less than 0.05) in CPA-treated than in control rats. Morphometrical investigations showed that the surface density (Sv) and the volume density (Vv) of the ventromedial nucleus were higher (p less than 0.05) in CPA-treated male than in control rats. By comparing sexes the Sv and Vv of the ventromedial nucleus were higher (p less than 0.01) in CPA-treated male than in corresponding female rats. Also the nuclear surface of the tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons of the arcuate nucleus was higher (p less than 0.05) in CPA-treated male than in female rats. In lactotropes of the pituitary gland the immunoreactive prolactin (PRL) was densitometrically increased (p less than 0.05) in CPA-treated female compared with control rats. By electron microscopy, PRL granules and autophagocytosis appeared to be more abundant in CPA-treated rats of both sexes. These data show that fetal exposure to CPA results in long-term anatomical and physiological alterations of hypothalamic and preoptic nuclei as well as of the pituitary lactotropes. These permanent changes support the functional endocrine abnormalities observed in adult rats.
Keywords
Androgen Antagonists/*pharmacology Animals Cyproterone/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology Cyproterone Acetate Densitometry Female Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood Gonads/anatomy & histology/*drug effects/growth & development Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/anatomy & histology/*drug effects/growth & development Hypothalamus/cytology/physiology Luteinizing Hormone/blood Male Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/cytology/physiology Pituitary Gland/cytology/physiology Pregnancy Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects Preoptic Area/cytology/physiology Prolactin/blood Rats Sex Characteristics Sex Factors Stereotaxic Techniques Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/cytology/physiology Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/immunology/metabolism
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
11/02/2008 15:12
Last modification date
20/08/2019 17:05
Usage data