The Effect of Tomato Juice in Increasing Ki-67 Expression and Epithelial Thickness on The Vaginal Wall of Menopausal Rats

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Dyspareunia and pain due to the decrease of vaginal wall thickness usually happen in menopausal women. The reduction of estrogen levels cause the decreasing of cell proliferation and the thinning of vaginal wall epithelium. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a source of phytoestrogens, which produce estrogenic effects. This study aims to assess the effect of tomato juice on Ki-67 expression and epithelial thickness of the vaginal wall in menopausal rats.METHODS: This was an experimental study using Sprague-Dawley rats. Twenty-four female rats, aged 4 months and weighing 150-200 grams, were divided into 4 groups. Each group consisted of 6 rats. Negative control (NC) group was group of rats with sham procedure and performed by distilled water for 28 days. Positive control (PC) group was group of bilateral ovariectomized rats and performed by distilled water for 28 days. The first treatment (T1) group was group of bilateral ovariectomized rats, given tomato juice at dose of 11g/200g body weight (BW)/day. The second treatment (T2) group was group of bilateral ovariectomized rats, given tomato juice at dose of 15g/200g BW/day. Data analysis was done with Anova, multiple comparisons and regression test.RESULTS: The group with lowest Ki-67 expression was PC group (2.52±0.60). The expression of Ki-67 in treatment groups (T1 and T2) was higher than PC group, but lower than NC group. There was no significant difference between groups (p=0.771). The lowest epithelial thickness was found in PC group (21.19±3.96) and the highest was found in the treatment groups (38.73±12.43). There was positive correlation between tomato juice and epithelial thickness (p=0.647).CONCLUSION: Tomato juice increases Ki-67 expression and epithelial thickness on the vaginal wall of menopausal rats. The increase of epithelial thickness follows the administration dose, but Ki-67 expression does not exceed in the control rats. Tomato juice increases the cell proliferation of vaginal wall on menopausal rats, however the increase is still within normal limits.KEYWORDS: epithelial thickness, Ki-67, menopause, tomato juice

Vaginal Acidity Affects Vaginal Microbiota in Postmenopausal Women

“…This condition is not favorable for the growth of vaginal microbiota, especially vaginal Lactobacilli. (16,27) This finding is in line with a study that found L. crispatus was dominant in healthy vaginal conditions. (10) This finding is also similar to a previous study that found a low proportion of Lactobacillus sp.…”

“…Some menopausal women complain about the burning sensation in the vulva, and at least 50% of postmenopausal women experience urogenital tract changes associated with VVA. (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16) Decrease in estrogen levels during menopause affect the female urogenital tract. (17) During menopause, the proliferation of epithelial cells is reduced, causing the thinning of vaginal mucosal epithelium, atopy of vaginal wall, and parabasal cell dominance in the epithelial layer.…”

“…These changes trigger reduction of glycogen. (16,18) Decreased glycogen in the vaginal epithelium causes the vaginal pH to be more alkaline. Thus, it increases the risk of vaginal infection or atrophic vaginitis in menopausal women.…”

Vaginal pH of Menopausal Women is Related to the Duration of Menopause

“…5 Several studies on phytoestrogen, as natural estrogens derived from plants, have been carried out to treat menopausal symptoms. 6 The phytoestrogen can induce the proliferation and maturation of the epithelium on the vaginal surface, which plays an important role in the vagina's defence against pathogenic bacteria. 6,7 Loss of estrogen production from the ovaries causes menopausal women to experience symptoms of atrophic vaginitis.…”

“…6 The phytoestrogen can induce the proliferation and maturation of the epithelium on the vaginal surface, which plays an important role in the vagina's defence against pathogenic bacteria. 6,7 Loss of estrogen production from the ovaries causes menopausal women to experience symptoms of atrophic vaginitis. 8 Estrogen defi ciency results in changes in epithelial cell maturation so that the glycogen content will decrease.…”