Effects of hexestrol on mouse ovarian morphology and ovulation.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze histological aspects of ovaries as well as the ovulation of adult mice treated with the anabolic agent hexestrol. METHODS: Thirty adult mice were divided into three groups of 10 animals each: (GI) the animals received a dose of 3 mg/kg of hexestrol; (GII) the animals were given a dose of 6 mg/kg of hexestrol; (GIII) the animals were injected with distilled water (vehicle). Another 10-animal group (GIV) was included, and these mice were injected with propionate testosterone (1.25 mg) after 5 days from the day of birth. Hexestrol was administered intraperitoneally once a day and the treatment lasted 30 days. The mice were then sacrificed; their ovaries and oviducts were removed, submitted to histological routine and analyzed under light microscopy. RESULTS: In mice treated with hexestrol (6 mg/kg) (Group II), ovaries were smaller than those from the controls but highly vascularized; similar results were obtained in GIV. A great number of follicles in several stages of development were found -- however, with no corpora lutea -- in six animals in GII. No corpora lutea were found in GIV. The number of luteal bodies and oocytes in GII was lower than that in GI or GIII. No oocytes were detected in GIV. Finally, the nuclear volume of interstitial cells in GII and GIV was the largest. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the anabolic agent hexestrol in a high dose may decrease ovulation in mice.

Regulation of allergic lung inflammation in rats: interaction between estradiol and corticosterone.

OBJECTIVE: One third of asthmatic women report a decreased expiratory peak flow during menses. Since asthma is characterized by lung inflammation and bronchopulmonary hyperresponsiveness, we investigated the role played by estradiol in allergic lung inflammation. METHODS: Cell migration to the lungs of allergic female rats subjected to oophorectomy (OVx) was compared to that in their sham-operated (sham) control counterparts. Seven days after OVx or sham operation, the rats were sensitized intraperitoneally with ovalbumin (OA, 1 mg/kg) suspended in aluminum hydroxide (day 0). At day 7, a subcutaneous booster of OA was performed and an aerosolized OA challenge was carried out at day 14. One day later (day 15), the rats were killed and cell counts were performed in bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL), in peripheral blood and in bone marrow lavages. RESULTS: After the antigen challenge, OVx rats showed a significant decrease in cell migration to the lung as compared to sham-operated rats. Differential analyses of BAL revealed a reduced number of eosinophils, mononuclear cells and neutrophils. In contrast, in bone marrow as well as in the peripheral blood the numbers of eosinophils, mononuclear cells and neutrophils were increased relative to sham controls. Mast cell numbers were similar in both groups. The estradiol receptor antagonist tamoxifen decreased the allergic lung inflammation in intact rats down to levels similar to those found in untreated OVx rats. In contrast, 17beta-estradiol replacement in OVx rats reestablished the allergic lung inflammation, as observed by an elevated number of eosinophils, mononuclear cells and neutrophils recovered in BAL. Similarly, an elevated number of inflammatory cells were quantified in BAL from allergic OVx rats when corticosterone effects were blocked with metyrapone or RU-486. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that estradiol has proinflammatory actions on the allergic lung response, and these actions seem to be mediated, at least in part, by endogenous glucocorticoids.

Role of submandibular salivary glands in LPS-induced lung inflammation in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Literature data suggest that rodent salivary glands can exert a neuroimmunomodulatory influence on distant inflammatory events. The release of regulatory factors by salivary glands appears to be influenced by time-dependent factors. In this paper we examined this possibility directly by studying the role of submandibular salivary glands in the temporal profile of lypopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung inflammation in rats. METHODS: The submandibular glands were removed (SMGx) or not (sham) and, 4 days later, the animals received an intravenous LPS injection (Salmonella abortus equi, 1 mg/kg). Cells in peripheral blood and in bronchoalveolar and bone marrow lavages were quantified after 90 min, 1, 3 and 5 days. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity and corticosterone concentrations in serum were also determined. Baseline values were determined in a group of naïve rats. RESULTS: One day after the LPS injection, neutrophil counts in lungs and blood in both animal groups were elevated, but the SMGx rats presented a significantly lower response in comparison to the sham-operated controls. Five days after LPS treatment, however, SMGx rats had higher neutrophil counts in the lungs than did sham animals, but numbers of blood neutrophils were equal. Ninety minutes after LPS injection, a peak of serum TNF activity was detected in both groups compared with naïve levels. At this time point, TNF activity was about 135% higher in the serum of the SMGx group than in controls. Corticosterone levels of sham-operated controls rose only on the 5th day after LPS, whereas SMGx rats had significant peaks of corticosterone both on the 1st and the 5th day, but not on the 3rd day. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that submandibular glands have a dual effect on inflammatory pulmonary response by differentially modulating the profile of lung neutrophil influx.

Metoclopramide-induced hyperprolactinemia affects mouse endometrial morphology.

Information about the effects of pituitary hyperprolactinemia on endometrium, especially in levels coexisting with absence of amenorrhea in women, is scarce. The interference of high prolactin levels on endometrial morphology was thus investigated in young post-pubertal and adult mice rendered hyperprolactinemic by long-term treatment with metoclopramide (MC). No remarkable differences have been noticed upon light microscopy examination of the endometria comparing young to adult cycling MC-treated mice, except on the max/min diameter ratio, which in young animals was lower than in adults (ANOVA, p < 0.01). Both young and adult MC-treated mice presented an increased number of endometrial glands than their respective controls (ANOVA, p < 0.01). However, young MC-treated animals showed the highest values of endometrial thickness index compared to other groups (ANOVA, p < 0.01). Our results indicate that MC-induced hyperprolactinemia causes mouse endometrium proliferation, mainly in young animals.

Actions of mefenamic acid on pregnant albino rats

Misuse and abuse of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic mefenamic acid among pregnant women in developing coutries constitute a matter of medical concern, mainly as a function of the potentially serious side effects of that drug, notably at the digestive system level. Female rats were treated during the entire pregnancy period (from day 0 up to day 20) with 5, 15, or 45 mg/kg of mefenamic acid (MA) once daily, by gavage. Controls received the drug vehicle. We observed that there was a slight yet significant impairment of maternal body weight gain of the animals treated with the two highest doses of MA. Although the drug was proven to exert deleterious effects on kidney and liver metabolic functions, no gross signs of renal or hepatic toxicity were detected in our animals and in their concepts. The digestive effects would be presumably caused by the inhibitory actions of MA on the luminal fluid movement and are accounted for by the observed body weight loss during pregnancy.

Systemic effects of fluoridated water on rats

The biological effects of fluoride were investigated on rats fed pure spring water (natural F- concentration=0.2 ppm) or spring water enriched with NaF to result 0.8, 1.1 or 2.2 ppm F- during 180 days. The main effects of fluoride have been: 1. electrocardiographic recordings showed a significant reduction of the electrical systole (QTc). 2. body weight gain was unaffected by the treatment. 3. bivalent cations (Ca²+, Mg²+ and Zn²+) were importantly reduced in adrenals, ventricular myocardium, and bone. 4. Na+ concentration was strikingly increased in aorta, lung and joint of treated animals. 5. in testis, we observed Ca²+ and Na+ retention. 6. Zinc ions were depleted in most tissues, except kidney and submandibular salivary gland. Our results revealed that chronic administration of fluoridated water does influence systemic biochemical homeostasis in rats, without evoking any overt sign of fluorosis. Moreover, the definition of a "safe" concentration of F- in public water must consider that the dosis at which beneficial effects as caries reduction are attained is not far away from that one which causes chronic yet subclinical toxic effects

Xerostomia: gama-câmara computadorizada no diagnóstico e avaliaçäo do tratamento: relato de caso / Xerostomia: computerized gamma-camera in the diagnosis and evaluation of treatment: case report

Uma mulher, com 36 anos, branca, casada, é portadora de xerostomia há 4 anos. Relatou que há 7 anos teve episódio de parotidite epidêmica e recentemente lhe surgiu um nódulo de cerca de 4 cm no pólo inferior da parótida esquerda. Realizou-se exame de fluxo sangüíneo regional, com obtençäo de imagens dinâmicas e estáticas em gama-câmara computadorizada ("GCC") após administraçäo intravenosa de pertecnetato radiativo de sódio (Na99mTC) como traçador. A perfusäo das glândulas salivares foi normal, sendo um pouco aumentada na regiäo do nódulo; as imagens estáticas mostraram ausência de capacidade de concentraçäo do traçador. A doente foi tratada com sucos cítricos, massagens locais, manuais e com auxílio de vibrador, e betametasona em formulaçäo de liberaçäo lenta ( 5 mg/ampola, 1 ampola cada 3 dias durante 21 dias). Após esse tempo, notou-se, em novo exame, que o nódulo havia desaparecido e já havia razoável concentraçäo do traçador nas glândulas salivares. O diagnóstico clínico foi de processo inflamatório crônico das glândulas salivares. O resultado do tratamento instituído nessa 3 semanas foi considerado excelente

Avaliaçäo dos efeitos hemodinâmicos da associaçäo metipranolol e butizida em hipertensos, através do uso de gama-câmara computadorizada / Computerized gamma-camera evaluation of hemodynamic efects of metipranolol and butizide in hypertensive subjects

Foram estudados 20 indivíduos hipertensos leves e moderados, adminsitrando-se aos mesmos 1 comprimido ao dia da associaçäo de 20 mg de metipranolol e 2,5 mg de butizida. O estudo prosseguiu por 8 semanas, fazendo-se as medidas de pulso, das pressöes, e o estudo hemodinâmico em gama-câmara computadorizada. Com esta técnica mediu-se o tempo médio de circulaçäo pulmonar (TMCP) e a fraçäo de ejeçäo do ventrículo esquerdo (FE). Obteve-se a diminuiçäo das pressöes sistólicas e diastólica (P < 0,01), do pulso (P < 0,05) e do TM (P < 0,05) e aumento de FE (P < 0,05). Estes dados sugerem que a associaçäo usada mostrou efeitos hemodinâmicos favoráveis, permitindo melhor perfusäo pulmonar e aumentando a eficiência dos batimentos cardíacos

Age-reletad changes in the diabetic alterations of the hypohysis-thyroid-testicular axis in male rat

The effects of streptozotocin diabetes on the male reproductive tract were studied in young rats in different ages (25 to 60 days old). The data showed that diabetes caused atrophy of pituitary, testes and sexual accessory glands as well as testicular and pituitary functions, as evaluated by the circulating levels of LH and testosterone. In addition, an impairment of thyroidal function was detected since thyroxine serum levels were decreased. It is also seen that prolactin levels were reduced as a consequence of streptozotocin treated rats. Since younger animals were more drasticaly affected, we conclude that hypothyroidism that follows after the onset of diabetes could contribute to the picture on the basis of the importance of thyroidal function in the developing animal. Also it seems that reduction of prolactin levels due to hypothalamic TRH impairment would bring about a lack of the so important sinergistic action of this hormone and androgens in maintenance of androgen targetorgans.