Microscopic comparative study of the exposure effects of testosterone cypionate and ethinylestradiol during prenatal life on the prostatic tissue of adult gerbils

Abstract

There is an increasing variety of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) either with (anti)estrogenic or (anti)androgenic potential widely present in the environment. These xenosteroids may mimic endogenous steroid hormones disrupting the homeostasis of physiological pathways and leading to several disturbances, especially in tissues highly dependent on steroid hormones such as the prostate. Taking this into account, this comparative study aimed to verify the potential of ethinylestradiol (EE) and testosterone acting as ECDs on the prostate of both male and female adult gerbils exposed to these agents during the embryonic phase. Consequently, pregnant gerbils were treated either with 10 μg/kg/day of EE or with a single dose of 1 mg of testosterone cypionate. The pups that were born 6-8 days after testosterone exposure and the pups that were born after 3 days of EE exposure were allowed to grow but were sacrificed within 4 months. Serological, morphological, stereological, and immunohistochemical analyses were used. Overall, the results showed that both sexes exposed to testosterone and EE during gestation had a prostatic gland with an increased stromal and epithelial and a reduced luminal compartment. Moreover, we observed that glands affected with prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia showed intense stromal reshuffling. In conclusion, although these alterations were observed in both sexes, more relevant to this study was the differential responsiveness of males and females exposed to these different drugs. Whereas the EE affected males more, the testosterone was more harmful to the females.

Prenatal exposure to ethinylestradiol alters the morphologic patterns and increases the predisposition for prostatic lesions in male and female gerbils during ageing

“…; Perez et al . ). The EE exposure during the prenatal period resulted in increased (PIN) in the ventral male prostate and female prostate of senile gerbil.…”

“…; Perez et al . ). However, few studies have evaluated the effects of this exposure in senile individuals (Prins et al .…”

“…Studies show that female gerbil prostate is sensitive to actions of steroid hormones and undergoes morphological changes, similar to the male gerbil prostate (Perez et al . , ; Biancardi et al . , ).…”

“…Exposure to ethinylestradiol, a synthetic oestrogen in contraceptive pills, during the prenatal period, increases susceptibility to the emergence of preneoplastic lesions in the prostate in male and female gerbils in adulthood (Perez et al . , ).…”

“…ED exposure during pregnancy, even at low doses, promotes changes in the prostate of male and female rodents in the neonatal phase, and such modifications remain into adulthood (Perez et al . , ).…”