RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Nandrolone decanoate (ND) is an anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) which influences the ovarian structure and function. We assessed the effects of ND on the ovarian volume, number of primordial follicles, and level of hormones and also evaluated the modulatory effects of gonadotropins on the histopathological changes imposed by the administration of ND. METHODS: Six groups of Sprague-Dawley adult female rats (n=30) were used. The experimental rats were injected intraperitoneally with 3 and 10 mg/kg ND with or without human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG), 10 IU weekly for one month. The vehicle and control rats were administered olive oil and saline, respectively, for the same period of time. The ovarian volume and number of primordial follicles were estimated by stereological methods. RESULTS: The results showed a decrease in the ovarian volume, number of primordial follicles, and level of gonadotropins in the ND-treated animals compared with the vehicle groups. In the rats treated with 3 mg/kg of ND with hMG, an increase in the ovarian volume and number of primordial follicles was shown as compared to the rats treated with the same dose of ND without hMG. CONCLUSION: ND exerted detrimental effects on the dimensions of the ovary, number of follicles, and level of sex hormones. However, hMG, prevented the harmful effects of ND (at least in a low dose) on the ovarian follicles.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are undifferentiated cells that can differentiate and divide to other cell types. Transplantation of these cells to the different organs is used for curing various diseases. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was whether MSCs transplantation could treat the sterile testes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, Donor MSCs were isolated from bone marrow of Wistar rats. The recipients were received 40 mg/kg of busulfan to stop endogenous spermatogenesis. The MSCs were injected into the left testes. Cell tracing was done by labeling the MSCs by 5-Bromo-2- Deoxy Uridine (BrdU). The immunohistochemical and morphometrical studies were performed to analysis the curing criteria. RESULTS: The number of spermatogonia (25.38±1.57), primary spermatocytes (55.41±1.62) and spermatozoids (4.95±1.30)×10(6) in busulfan treated animals were decreased significantly as compared to the control group (33.35±1.78, 64.44±2.00) and (10.50±1.82)×10(6) respectively but stem cells therapy help the spermatogenesis begin more effective in these animals (32.78±1.99, 63.59±2.01) and (9.81±1.33)×10(6) respectively than the control group. The injected BrdU labeled mesenchymal stem cells differentiated to spermatogonia and spermatozoa in the seminiferous tubules of the infertile testis and also to the interstitial cells between tubules. CONCLUSION: We concluded that testis of host infertile rats accepted transplanted MSCs. The transplanted MSCs could differentiate into germinal cells in testicular seminiferous tubules. This article extracted from M.Sc. Thesis. (Bentolhoda Fereydouni).