The effects of estradiol and human chorionic gonadotropin on acth cells in peripubertal female rats: A histological and stereological study

The effects of estradiol (EDP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) on histological and stereological features of adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) cells in peripubertal female rats were examined. The first group of females received five injections of EDP (0.25 mg/kg b.w.), every second day from the 4th to 14th day after birth, and was killed at the peripubertal stage. The second group of females was given two injections of pregnyl-gonadotrophinum chorionicum (HCG; 50 IU/kg body weight) on the 36th and 37th days after birth, and it was killed 24 h after the last treatment. The controls were injected with an equivalent volume of the corresponding vehicle. ACTH cells were immunohistochemically labeled and stereologically evaluated. Stereological analysis showed that the volume of ACTH cells and their volume density in peripubertal females treated with EDP, were decreased by 15.6% and 53.8% (p<0.05), respectively, compared to the controls. In HCG-treated animals, the observed parameters were increased by 39.2% and 15.4% (p<0.05), respectively, in comparison with the control females. These findings suggest that the application of EDP or HCG exerted opposite effects on the stereological features of pituitary ACTH cells

Immunohistomorphometric Characteristics Of Pituitary GH Cells In Infant And Peripubertal Female Rats After Treatment With Estradiol Or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

The effects of estradiol-dipropionate (EDP) or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on immunohistomorphometric characteristics of pituitary GH cells in infant and peripubertal female rats were investigated. The first group of females received five injections of EDP (0.25 mg/kg b.w.) during the neonatal period of life, and was further divided into two subgroups which were sacrificed at the infantile period (17th day) or at the peripubertal period (38th day). The second group received two doses of hCG (50 IU/kg b.w.) on the 15th and 16th day of life in the first subgroup, and on the 36th and 37th days of life in the second subgroup, while they were sacrificed 24 h after the last treatment, respectively. The control females were injected with an equivalent volume of the vehicle and sacrificed according to the appropriate schedules as the hormone treated rats. EDP treatment decreased GH cell volume density in infant and peripubertal females, by 38% and 76% (p<0.05) respectively, in comparison with the controls. The number of GH cells per mm2 in infantile and peripubertal period was decreased in EDP treated animals by 26% and 53% (p<0.05) respectively, compared to the controls. Also, upon EDP treatment in both periods, GH cells were diminished in size and less intensely immunolabelled than in the control groups. The morphometric parameters in animals treated with hCG were insignificantly changed in both analyzed periods, in comparison with the controls. Unlike hCG, EDP manifested clear inhibitory effects on the immunohistomorphometric characteristics of GH cells in examined female rats

Diet-Induced Obesity and Ghrelin Effects on Pituitary Gonadotrophs: Immunohistomorphometric Study in Male Rats

Objective: The close relationship between energy metabolism, nutritional state, and reproductive physiology suggests that nutritional and metabolic disorders can disrupt normal reproductive function and fertility. Considering the importance of leptin and ghrelin effects in regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, the objective of this study was to investigate the influence of obesity and centrally applied ghrelin on immunohistochemical appearance and quantitative morphology of the pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) producing cells in adult male rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, animals were given two different diets: normal-fat (NF) and high-fat (HF), for 4 weeks, corresponding to normal and positive energy balance (n=2×14), respectively. Each group was subsequently divided into two subgroups (n=7) receiving intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of either ghrelin [G, 1 μg/5 μL phosphate buffered saline (PBS)] or vehicle (5 μL PBS, control group) every 24 hours for five consecutive days. Results: Morphometric analyses showed that in HF control group, the percentage of FSH cells per unit volume of total pituitary gland tissue (in μm3), i.e. volume density (Vvc), was increased (P<0.05) by 9.1% in comparison with the NF controls. After ICV treatment with ghrelin, volume (Vc) and volume density (Vvc) of FSH cells in ghrelin+NF (GNF) and ghrelin+HF (GHF) groups remained unchanged in comparison with NF and HF controls. Volume of LH cells in HF control group was increased by 17% (P<0.05), but their Vvc was decreased by 8.3% (P<0.05) in comparison with NF controls. In GNF group, the volume of LH cells increased by 7% (P<0.05), in comparison with the NF controls, but in GHF group, the same parameter remained unchanged when compared with HF controls. The central application of ghrelin decreased the Vvc of LH cells only in GNF group by 38.9% (P<0.05) in comparison with the NF control animals. Conclusion: The present study has shown that obesity and repetitive ICV administration of low doses of ghrelin, in NF and HF rats, modulated the immunohistomorphometric features of gonadotrophs, indicating the importance of obesity and ghrelin in regulation of the reproductive function

The positive effect of naringenin on superficial membrane fluidity in human erythrocytes

Superficial membrane fluidity is related to erythrocyte deformation behavior and affects the hemodynamics, especially in hypertension and atherosclerosis. Grapefruit flavanone naringenin, which is used as alternative therapeutic of cardiovascular conditions, can incorporate cellular membrane and change its fluidity. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of two nutritional doses of naringenin (lower - 0.1 µg/ml and higher - 1 µg/ml) on superficial membrane fluidity in human erythrocytes, which reflects their deformability. We used electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and fatty acid spin probes (5-DS and 7-DS), the spectra of which are dependent on membrane fluidity. The results showed a significant (p=0.029) increase of membrane fluidity near the hydrophilic surface in erythrocytes treated with higher nutritional dose of naringenin, while the lower nutritional dose of naringenin was ineffective (p>0.05) in that membrane region. In the hydrophobic layer just below the erythrocyte membrane phospholipid heads both lower and higher dose of naringenin significantly (p=0.036 and p=0.028, respectively) increased membrane fluidity. These data document the positive and dose dependent effect of naringenin on superficial membrane fluidity in human erythrocytes, recommending its use in the cardiovascular conditions characterized by disturbed hemodynamics

Immunohistomorphometric and Hormonal Analysis of the Pituitary Gonadotropic Cells after Application of the Nandrolone Decanoate and Swimming Training in Adult Male Rats

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of chronic nandrolone decanoate treatment and/or swimming training on immunohistomorphometric parameters on rat pituitary gonadotropic cells. Male Wistar albino rats, 10 weeks old, were classified into four groups: control (T-N-), nandrolone (T-N+), swimming training (T+N-), and swimming training with nandrolone (T+N+). The T+ groups swam for 4 weeks, 1 h/day, 5 days/week. The N+ groups received nandrolone decanoate (20 mg/kg) once per week for 4 weeks. Pituitary tissue sections were processed and stained for immunohistochemical analysis and immunofluorescence. The volume density of luteinizing hormone (LH) cells was decreased by 48% in T-N+ and for 35% in the T+N+ group. The volume density of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) cells was decreased by 39% in T-N+ and for 30% in T+N+ compared to the control. Nandrolone alone, or combined with swimming training, decreased the number of LH/FSH cells compared to the control. The levels of the immunofluorescent signal of LH/FSH cells were increased in all experimental groups. Nandrolone alone decreased the serum level of LH by 17%, whereas swimming training alone increased FSH levels by 11% compared to the control. Serum levels of testosterone were increased in all experimental groups. Nandrolone alone, or combined with swimming training, decreased immunohistomorphometric parameters of gonadotropic cells, whereas the levels of immunofluorescent signal were increased

Diosgenin-caused changes of the adrenal gland histological parameters in a rat model of the menopause

The authors (Vladimir Ajdzanovic, Ivana Jaric, Dragan Milenkovic and Verica Milosevic) are participating in the COSTAction FA 1403 POSITIVe (Inter individual variation in response to consumption of plant food bioactives and determinants involved),supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). We are grateful to Mr. Hinko Sauter (“Swiss-ConceptSciences” d.o.o., Belgrade, Serbia) for additional technical support and to Mrs. Maja R. Vojvodi´c for language correction of the manuscriptDiosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin of natural origin, has demonstrated benefits when it comes to the treatment of malignancies, cardiovascular issues and menopausal symptoms. In this study, we investigated the histological changes of the adrenal gland after diosgenin application in a rat model of the menopause. Middle-aged, acyclic female Wistar rats were divided into control (C; n=6) and diosgenin treated (D; n=6) groups. Diosgenin (100mg/kg b.w./day) was orally administered for four weeks, while C group received the vehicle alone. A histological approach included design-based stereology, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. The adrenal cortex volume decreased in D females by 15% (p<0.05) while the volume of adrenal medulla increased (p<0.05) by 64%, compared to the same parameters in C group. Volume density of the zona glomerulosa (expressed per absolute adrenal gland volume) in D rats increased (p<0.05) by 22% in comparison with C animals. Diosgenin treatment decreased (p<0.05) the volume density of the zona fasciculata (expressed per volume of adrenal cortex) by 15% when compared to C females. Absolute volume of the zona reticularis in D group decreased (p<0.05) by 38% in comparison with the same parameter in C rats. Also, after diosgenin application, the volume density of the zona reticularis (expressed per volume of adrenal cortex) and the zona reticularis cell volume were decreased by 51% and 20% (p<0.05) respectively, compared to C animals. Our results, reflecting a decrease in many stereological parameters of the adrenal cortex, indicate that diosgenin took over the role of corticosteroid precursors and became incorporated into steroidogenesi

Molecular determinants of the cardiometabolic improvements of dietary flavanols identified by an integrative analysis of nutrigenomic data from a systematic review of animal studies

Scope: Flavanols are important polyphenols of the human diet with extensive demonstrations of their beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health. They contribute to preserve health acting on a large range of cellular processes. The underlying mechanisms of action of flavanols are not fully understood but involve a nutrigenomic regulation.  Methods and Results: To further capture how the intake of dietary flavanols results in the modulation of gene expression, nutrigenomics data in response to dietary flavanols obtained from animal models of cardiometabolic diseases have been collected and submitted to a bioinformatics analysis. This systematic analysis shows that dietary flavanols modulate a large range of genes mainly involved in endocrine function, fatty acid metabolism, and inflammation. Several regulators of the gene expression have been predicted and include transcription factors, miRNAs and epigenetic factors.  Conclusion: This review highlights the complex and multilevel action of dietary flavanols contributing to their strong potential to preserve cardiometabolic health. The identification of the potential molecular mediators and of the flavanol metabolites driving the nutrigenomic response in the target organs is still a pending question which the answer will contribute to optimize the beneficial health effects of dietary bioactives