Substances that mimic endogenous hormones may alter the cell signaling that govern prostate development and predispose it to developing lesions in adult and senile life. Bisphenol A is able to mimic estrogens, and studies have demonstrated that low levels of exposure to this compound have caused alterations during prostate development. The aim of this study was to describe the prostate development in both male and female neonatal gerbils in normal conditions and under exposure to BPA during intrauterine life, and also to analyze whether the effects of intrauterine exposure to BPA remain in adulthood. Morphological, stereological, three-dimensional reconstruction, and immunohistochemical methods were employed. The results demonstrated that in 1-day-old normal gerbils, the female paraurethral glands and the male ventral lobe are morphologically similar, although its tissue components-epithelial buds (EB), periurethral mesenchyme (PeM), paraurethral mesenchyme (PaM) or ventral mesenchymal pad (VMP), and smooth muscle (SM)-have presented different immunolabeling pattern for androgen receptor (AR), and for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Moreover, we observed a differential response of male and female prostate to intrauterine BPA exposure. In 1-day-old males, the intrauterine exposure to BPA caused a decrease of AR-positive cells in the PeM and SM, and a decrease of the proliferative status in the EB. In contrast, no morphological alterations were observed in ventral prostate of adult males. In 1-day-old females, BPA exposure promoted an increase of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) positive cells in PeM and PaM, a decrease of AR-positive cells in EB and PeM, besides a reduction of cell proliferation in EB. Additionally, the adult female prostate of BPA-exposed animals presented an increase of AR- and PCNA-positive cells. These results suggest that the prostate of female gerbils were more susceptible to the intrauterine BPA effects, since they became more proliferative in adult life. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1740-1750, 2016.

No abstract

Parabens are xenoestrogens widely employed in cosmetics, foodstuffs, and pharmaceutical products. These chemicals are known to disrupt hormone-dependent organs, due to their binding affinity for hormonal receptors. Although recent studies have evaluated the endocrine-disrupting potential of parabens in several reproductive organs, few have investigated the effects of these chemicals in the prostate. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of oral exposure to methylparaben (500 mg/kg/day) for 3, 7, and 21 days on male and female adult gerbil prostate. For this purpose, we employed biometrical, morphological, and immunohistochemical analyses. The results showed that methylparaben caused morphological changes in gerbil prostates in all experimental groups. These animals displayed similar alterations such as prostate epithelial hyperplasia, increased cell proliferation, and a higher frequency of AR-positive cells. However, the prostate of the female gerbil showed additional changes such as stromal inflammatory infiltration, intraepithelial neoplasia foci, and an increase in AR-positive frequency. Altogether, these data show that methylparaben was responsible for disrupting estrogenic and androgenic receptors, suggesting that parabens may have estrogenic and antiandrogenic effects in the prostate.

Chrysin is a bioflavonoid found in fruits, flowers, tea, honey and wine, which has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic and anticarcinogenic properties. This flavone has also been considered as beneficial for reproduction due its testosterone-boosting potential. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chrysin on the prostate and gonads of male and female adult gerbils. In addition, a comparative analysis of the effects of testosterone on these same organs was conducted. Ninety-day-old male and female gerbils were treated with chrysin (50mgkg-1day-1) or testosterone cypionate (1mgkg-1week-1) for 21 days. The ventral male prostate and female prostate were dissected out for morphological, morphometric-stereological and ultrastructural assays. Testes and ovaries were submitted to morphological and morphometric---stereological analyses. Chrysin treatment caused epithelial hyperplasia and stromal remodelling of the ventral male and female prostate. Ultrastructurally, male and female prostatic epithelial cells in the chrysin group presented marked development of the organelles involved in the biosynthetic-secretory pathway, whereas cellular toxicity was observed only in female glands. Chrysin preserved normal testicular morphology and increased the number of growing ovarian follicles. Comparatively, testosterone treatment was detrimental to the prostate and gonads, since foci of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and gonadal degeneration were observed in both sexes. Thus, under the experimental conditions of this study, chrysin was better tolerated than testosterone in the prostate and gonads.

Introdução: A Síndrome de Down (SD) é uma doença autossômica congênita, caracterizada por deficiência de crescimento e do desenvolvimento mental. Esses pacientes apresentam um crânio pequeno, encurtamento do terço médio da face, depressão do osso nasal, região malar aplainada, ramo e corpo mandibular diminuídos, sínfise diminuta e projetada anteriormente, e olhos inclinados para cima. O crescimento ma- xilar sagital está intimamente relacionado ao crescimento da base do crânio. Pacien- tes com SD podem ter mordida cruzada posterior, mordida aberta anterior, Classe III dentária e/ou esquelética, anodontias, subdesenvolvimento da musculatura orofacial, deficiência no selamento labial e projeção da língua contra os dentes, o que acarreta um mal posicionamento dentário, comprometendo a saúde bucal. Além disso, vias aéreas reduzidas, macroglossia, hipertrofia das amígdalas, problemas de sucção, fala e mastigação estão normalmente relacionadas à Síndrome de Down. Objetivo: Relatar um caso de uma paciente portadora de SD, Classe III de Angle, em que foi feito avanço da maxila e do mento, com aposição de enxerto ósseo. Após a cirurgia, a paciente evoluiu bem, com oclusão estável. Conclusões: As vantagens advindas da cirurgia ortognática levam à correção da deficiência no crescimento fisiológico, proporcionando uma melhora na função e estética.