Female Reproductive System

Morphologic changes induced by oral long-term treatment with 8-prenylnaringenin in the uterus, vagina, and mammary gland of castrated rats

“…13,22,23 In the present experiments, increased vaginal epithelial height, the number of layers, and cornification were seen in all samples under both E 2 treatments, with an apparent stronger effect under the high E 2 dose treatment. 8-PN at the low dose increased the height of the epithelium only slightly and infrequently; at the high dose, however, an increased number of layers comparable to that found with the high E 2 dose were observed.…”

“…During the course of an estrous cycle, E 2 induces a renewal of cells and also induces epithelial cells to adopt a tall cylindrical shape. 13 In the animals undergoing long-term E 2 treatment, the epithelial cells also showed a cylindrical shape with a high cytoplasm/nuclei ratio. Changes like these were seen mainly in the E 2 low-dose group.…”

“…13 Under physiologic conditions on proestrus and estrus, the nuclei of lamina propria stromal cells depict a spindle-shaped and organized pattern. 13 This was also seen in some animals of the low 8-PN dose group, in all animals of the high 8-PN dose and in both E 2 dose groups, whereas in the Ovx control animals, stained cells were round and densely packed. The epithelial cells were also affected by E 2 and 8-PN.…”

“…Specifically, E 2 -induced effects in the uterus and vagina are well known and allow comparison with effects of test substances. 13 Morphologic E 2 -induced effects in the mammary gland are not well described, and therefore this study provides not only information on the effects of 8-PN but also quantitative data on the effects of E 2 in this organ. It is well known that E 2 enhances mammary gland proliferation, 14 and this has been associated with the increased risk of cancer development because DNA damage might occur during replication.…”

Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone, Premarin and Acolbifene on histomorphology and sex steroid receptors in the rat vagina

“…A similar epithelium characterized all segments of the OVX + Premarin group (Fig. 2E), with the exception of some areas of large mucous cells in segments 2-5 (Table 1), a reaction seen following long-term administration of an estrogenic compound [24]. On the other hand, cycling rats at proestrus, which are under a mixed estrogenic-progestational influence, show the presence of epithelial mucification (Fig.…”