Morphological and morphometric analysis of the adrenal cortex of androgenized female rats

Aim: We evaluated the thickness of the adrenal cortex zones of female rats androgenized to mimic polycystic ovary syndrome. Methods: Forty-four female virgin Wistar-Hannover rats were divided into two groups: controls ( n = 17) and animals which received testosterone propionate on the 2nd day of life ( n = 27). At 90 days of life, after confirmation of persistent estrus, the animals were sacrificed, and the adrenal cortex zones were evaluated. Student's t test and Levene's test were used in the statistical analysis ( p < 0.05 considered significant). Results: the adrenal glands of the androgenized rats were more voluminous and had a more intensely vascularized zona reticularis than the control animals. the mean thicknesses of zona glomerulosa and zona reticularis in the androgenized rats were 58.4 and 730.7 mu m, respectively, significantly thicker than the values in the control group ( 45.0 and 328.3 mu m, respectively). Conclusion: Zona reticularis and zona glomerulosa of the androgenized female rats were significantly thicker than those of the control animals. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.Univ São Paulo, Dept Stat, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Estadual Campinas, Sch Med, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Morphol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Piaui, Dept Gynecol, Teresina, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Morphol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Effects of Raloxifene on Ki-67 and CD34 Antigen Expression in Breast Cancer

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of raloxifene on CD34 and Ki-67 antigen expression in breast cancer specimens from postmenopausal women. Methods: Sixteen postmenopausal patients with operable, stage II (>= 3 cm), estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, who took 60 mg of raloxifene daily for 28 days, participated in this study. Immunohistochemistry was carried out in tumor samples prior to and following raloxifene treatment to evaluate CD34 and Ki-67 protein expression. Angiogenesis was quantified in 10 randomly selected fields per slide, and Ki-67-stained nuclei were counted in 1,000 cells per slide using an image capture and analysis system with 400 ! magnification. Student`s t test for paired samples was used for the statistical analysis of data. Statistical significance was established at p < 0.05. Results: The mean number of microvessels was 44.44 +/- 3.54 prior to raloxifene therapy and 22.63 +/- 1.61 following therapy (p < 0.001), and the mean percentage of Ki-67-stained nuclei was 19.28 +/- 8 1.61 and 12.13 +/- 8 1.48 prior to and following raloxifene treatment, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Raloxifene significantly reduces CD34 and Ki-67 protein expression in breast carcinoma in postmenopausal women. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Base