Volume 57 (2007) Issue: 2007 No#5-6

Effect of estradiol or calcium treatment on mammotrophs of female middle-aged rats

Author(s): Milošević Verica, Starčević Vesna, Šošić-Jurjević Branka, Filipović B, Trifunović Svetlana, Ristić Nataša, Nestorović Nataša, Manojlović Milica, Sekulić Milka

Keywords:PRL, mammotrophs, estradiol, calcium, middle-aged, female rats

The effects of estradiol dipropionate (EDP) or calcium glucoheptonate (Ca) on the morphology and stereology of the PRL cells in 14-month-oldWistar female rats were studied. The animals were treated daily with EDP in the dose of 0.625 mg/kg b.w. or calcium glucoheptonate (Ca; 11.4 mg/kg b.w.) for two weeks. The controls were injected with vehicle alone by the same schedule. Mammotrophs (PRL cells) were immunocytochemically localized by the PAP method. Blood PRL concentration was determined by Delfia procedure. In animals treated with EDP the volume of both, PRL cells and their nuclei, as well as the volume densities were significantly (p<0.05) increased by 17%, 9% and 38%, respectively, in comparison with the controls. In animals treated with Ca all morphometric parameters were insignificantly (p>0.05) decreased compared to control rats. Serum concentration of PRL was significantly increased (p<0.05) by 17% after estradiol treatment, but in Ca-treated females this parameter was insignificantly (p>0.05) changed by 2% compared to controls. Based on these results, it can be concluded that EDP expresses a strong stimulatory effect on the morphology and function of pituitary PRL cells.