Review on the use of dexamethasone and its impact on fertility and pregnancy

Purpose: Although benefit/risk analysis is usually undertaken prior to starting a treatment, some conditions will inevitably require the use of drugs with known side effects even during pregnancy. This is the case with dexamethasone use in ante natal care. The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of the uses of dexamethasone and its impacts on pregnancy and fertility in humans. Data source: The review is based on literature searches using PubMed and MeSH and authors' personal manuscript/abstract files and citations of known references. Study selection: The selection of articles reflects the authors' opinion as to originality and importance in the context of the review. The review included human and some aspects of animal study.Data extraction: The electronic searches were scrutinized and full manuscripts of all quotes considered relevant to the study were obtained. All the articles whose abstracts were not available were excluded.Results: Dexamethasone use has evolved over the years to include fertility treatment in both males and females in addition to its use in pregnancy to prevent respiratory distress syndrome in neonates despite its side effects due to the fact that its benefits outweigh the risks. Conclusions: Dexamethasone use has evolved over the years to include fertility treatment in addition to use in the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome. Low doses have no major adverse effects; however, repeated doses and long-term therapy are associated with more serious sequelae. It is recommended that dexamethasone therapy be incorporated into maternal and neonatal health care services

Structural, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical analysis of the vesicular gland in the male greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus)

This study reports the structure, ultrastructure, morphometry and distribution patterns of the two estrogen receptors in the vesicular glands of the male greater cane rat. Samples of vesicular glands from 15 sexually mature male greater cane rats raised in captivity were routinely processed for histological, ultrastructural and morphometric analysis, while immunohistochemistry was also carried out using rabbit polyclonal antibodies against estrogen receptors.The vesicular gland in the greater cane rat is a paired transparent elongated branched tube that presents a characteristic Y-shaped outline. The tube is made up of three histological layers: mucosa, muscularis and adventitia with the mucosa thrown into branching and anastomosing folds that form cavities and recesses within it. Though the epithelium is lined by principal and scarce basal cells, the principal cells are, however, of two types - light and dense based on their electron density and cytoplasmic characteristics. A prominent ultrastructural feature of the light principal cells is the presence of abundant mitochondria surrounded by well-developed cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum that have dilated edges and small vesicular extensions. The epithelial cells exhibited different patterns of expressions of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalfa) and estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta). The findings highlight the peculiarities in the structure, ultrastructure and distribution of the estrogen receptors of the vesicular gland of greater cane rat

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