Effect of Testosterone on Proliferation Markers and Apoptosis in Breasts of Ovariectomized Rats

• Autor(a) principal: Oliveira,Jussara Celi Conceição
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Outros Autores: Steiner,Marcelo Luis, Theodoro,Thérèse Rachell, Mader,Ana Maria Amaral Antonio, Petri,Giuliana, Abreu,Luiz Carlos, Pinhal,Maria Aparecida da Silva, Fernandes,César Eduardo, Pompei,Luciano Melo
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista brasileira de ginecologia e obstetrícia (Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-72032019001200703
• topic: testosterone; proliferation; apoptosis; breast; ovariectomy

Abstract Objective To investigate the action of testosterone (T), isolated or associated with estradiol benzoate (EB), on the proliferation markers and apoptosis of breasts of ovariectomized rats. Methods A total of 48 castrated female Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups, and each of them were submitted to one of the following treatments for 5 weeks: 1) control; 2) EB 50 mcg/day + T 50 mcg/day; 3) T 50mcg/day; 4) EB 50 mcg +T 300 mcg/day; 5) T 300 mcg/day; and 6) EB 50 mcg/day. After the treatment, the mammary tissue was submitted to a histological analysis and immunoexpression evaluation of proliferation markers (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA) and apoptosis (caspase-3). Results There was a statistically significant difference among the groups regarding microcalcifications and secretory activity, with higher prevalence in the groups treated with EB. There was no difference among the groups regarding atrophy, but a higher prevalence of atrophy was found in the groups that received T versus those that received EB +T. There was a difference among the groups regarding the PCNA (p = 0.028), with higher expression in the group submitted to EB +T 300 mcg/day. Regarding caspase-3, there was no difference among the groups; however, in the group submitted to EB +T 300 mcg/day, the expression was higher than in the isolated T group. Conclusion Isolated T did not have a proliferative effect on the mammary tissue, contrary to EB. Testosterone in combination with EB may or may not decrease the proliferation, depending on the dose of T.