Restoration of Vaginal Epithelial Atrophy in Ovariectomized Rats with Sex Steroid Hormones

Abstract

Histological and immunohistochemical changes in vaginal tissue structure of ovariectomized rats were assessed in response to sex steroid hormone administration. Sixty female rats were divided into six groups (10) each; control, sham, ovariectomized, ovariectomized rats treated with estradiol (20 µg/kg/day), Ovariectomized rats treated with progesterone (1 mg/kg/day) and ovariectomized rats treated with both estradiol and progesterone. Vaginal tissues were examined through haematoxylin and eosin, masson trichrome, and periodic acid shiff stains. Immunohistochemistry was used for expression of E-cadherin in vaginal epithelial cells. Ovariectomized rats with or without progesterone administration revealed a significant decrease in vaginal weight and length, reduction of vaginal epithelial thickness and glycogen content, which were restored with estradiol administration. Percent area of collagen fibers was not affected in all groups. E-cadherin expression was decreased in vaginal epithelium of both ovariectomized rats and progesterone administered group. It was concluded that vaginal epithelial atrophy due to ovariectomy can be restored by administration of estradiol or in combination with progesterone.