Hipofizno-ovarijalni sistem pacova od fetalnog do peripubertalnog perioda života nakon intrauterinog izlaganja deksametazonu
Pituitary-ovarian axis of rats from fetal to peripubertal period of life after intrauterine exposure to dexamethasone
Abstract:
During fetal development an organism undergoes “critical periods” of intensive cell
division as well as the growth and maturation of tissues, organs and organ systems. The
fetal environment principally determines the quality of the developmental process, while
variation of conditions may lead to a range of disorders followed by intrauterine growth
retardation (IUGR). The consequences of IUGR are long-lasting and manifest through
various metabolic and cardiovascular issues in later life. Thus, the fetal environment
prejudices the adult phenotype, while their intertwining is elaborated with the programming
concept. The most widely exploited experimental approaches in the field of programming
and IUGR effects are maternal diet leading to offspring malnutrition, provoking stress to
mother and antenatal glucocorticoid therapy. Each of these experimental approaches via
different mechanisms leads to fetal exposure to elevated glucocorticoid levels, which may
disrupt to a great extent the physiology of the developmental process.
The aim of this study was to establish whether the exposure of rat fetuses to
synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone, during the period between days 16 and 18 of
gestation, programmed the development and function of the pituitary-ovarian system,
starting from the fetal to the peripubertal period of life.
The subject of this doctoral thesis investigation were rat fetuses and females exposed to
dexamethasone from the 16th to the 18th gestational day.
During three consecutive days (16–18 days of gestation) pregnant rat females were
subcutaneously treated with dexamethasone (Dexamethasonis phosphate – Dx, Krka, p.o.,
Novo Mesto) dissolved in saline (0.9% NaCl), in doses of 1.0, 0.5 and 0.5 mg Dx/kg
b.w./day. During the same period a control group of pregnant females received an
adequate volume of saline.
The offspring of pregnant rat females which received dexamethasone (Dx) or saline
(K) were sacrificed during the fetal (19th and 21st fetal day), neonatal (5th day), infantile (16th
day) and peripubertal (38th day) period of life. Gonadotropic (FSH and LH) pituitary cells
were immunocytochemically labeled, while the ovary sections were histologically stained
with hematoxylin and eosin. Thus prepared pituitary and ovary sections were stereologically
and morphometrically analyzed using the newCast stereological software package. The
values of pituitary and ovary volume were obtained, as well as the absolute number of FSH
and LH cells, their volume, volume density and numerical density. FSH and LH blood
levels were biochemically (RIA) determined. Besides volume, the absolute numbers of
healthy and degenerated cells in the fetal ovary were determined, while the numbers of
healthy and atretic primordial, primary, secondary and antral follicles as well as corpora lutea
were determined in the postnatal female ovaries. The obtained data were statistically
processed.
Intrauterine exposure to dexamethasone caused IUGR, manifested with significantly
(p<0.05) decreased body weight of 21 days old fetuses, but a significant (p<0.05) decrease
of the same parameter was also observed during the postnatal period.
Pituitary and its adeno- fraction volumes were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in
the fetal, neonatal, infantile and peripubertal period of life.
Compared to the controls, the analyzed stereological parameters demonstrated the
same pattern of changes in both FSH and LH cells in the female rats exposed in utero to
dexamethasone. Thus, the number of gonadotropic cells was significantly (p<0.05)
decreased starting from the fetal, during the neonatal, infantile to the peripubertal period of
life, while their volume was significantly (p<0.05) decreased only at fetal day 19. The
volume and numerical density of gonadotropic cells were significantly (p<0.05) decreased
in neonatal and infantile periods of life.
Compared to the controls, the FSH and LH blood levels were significantly
(p<0.05) decreased in neonatal, infantile and peripubertal periods of life in the female rats
exposed in utero to dexamethasone.
After intrauterine exposure to dexamethasone, the ovary volume was significantly
(p<0.05) decreased in all the examined periods of life, compared to the control values.
Female rat ovary, in the fetal period of development, does not have a definitive
histological organization; therefore the presence of healthy and degenerated germinative
cells, as well as somatic cells can be observed. Quantification of germinative cells showed
that, in the ovaries of 19 days old fetuses, dexamethasone caused a significant (p<0.05)
increase in degenerated cells number at the expense of the healthy germinative cells pool,
while the total number of germinative cells was not changed in comparison with the
controls. In the ovaries of 21 days old fetuses, dexamethasone caused a significant (p<0.05)
decrease of germinative cells total number, as well as a significant (p<0.05) decrease of
healthy and increase of degenerated cells number.
In the ovaries of 5 and 16 days old female rats exposed in utero to dexamethasone
the same categories of healthy and atretic follicles were present as in the controls, i.e.
primordial, primary and secondary follicles, but in a significantly (p<0.05) reduced number.
Unlike the control, peripubertal female ovaries which possess corpora lutea are still missing in
the ovaries of peripubertal females exposed in utero to dexamethasone. The number of
healthy primordial and primary follicles was significantly (p<0.05) decreased, while the
number of the analyzed categories of healthy and atretic secondary and antral follicles was
significantly (p<0.05) increased, compared to the control values.
The results of this study definitely indicate that the reproductive potential of
females exposed in utero to dexamethasone is decreased, while their sexual maturation is
delayed. Considering that dexamethasone realized its effects at the crucial moment of
pituitary and ovary development during the fetal period, the changes caused are permanent,
and determine substantially the quality of female reproductive life. Such a result is very
important and is applicable in human medicine, since the elaborated conditions are
entwined with the everyday life of the modern woman and future mother.
Keywords:
Dexamethasone; Fetus; Offspring; Gonadotropic cells; Ovary; Germinative cells; FolliclesSource:
University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, 2012, 1-185Funding / projects:
- The effects of select plant extracts, phytoestrogens, steroid and peptide hormones on the rat neuroendocrine system (RS-MESTD-Basic Research (BR or ON)-173009)
URI
http://eteze.bg.ac.rs/application/showtheses?thesesId=76https://fedorabg.bg.ac.rs/fedora/get/o:3475/bdef:Content/download
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http://nardus.mpn.gov.rs/123456789/2064
https://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2413