Análise morfológica, imuno-histoquímica e ultraestrutural dos efeitos da exposição ao flavonóide crisina sobre a próstata de gerbilos adultos
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Data
2018-02-23
Autores
Campos, Mônica Sousa
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Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Resumo
A crisina é um composto natural biologicamente ativo encontrado predominantemente em flores de maracujá azul, em mel, camomila, própolis e casca de frutas. Possui propriedades potentes como efeito anti-inflamatório, antioxidante e tem sido empregada para o tratamento de desordens reprodutivas. Essa flavona tem o potencial de aumentar os níveis de testosterona endógena, tanto por inibir a enzima aromatase, quanto por estimular a esteroidogênese testicular. Alterações no metabolismo hormonal mediadas por interferências exógenas podem interferir na fisiologia prostática resultando em modificações na atividade secretora da glândula e na regulação dos receptores hormonais. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da exposição à crisina sobre a próstata e gônadas de gerbilos adultos. Para avaliar o potencial androgênico da crisina, nós analisamos, comparativamente, os efeitos da testosterona sobre estes mesmos órgãos. Machos e fêmeas de gerbilos com 90 dias de idade foram tratados com crisina (50 mg/kg/dia) ou com cipionato de testosterona (1 mg/kg/semana) e divididos tem 3 subgrupos que foram eutanasiados após 3, 7 e 21 dias de tratamento. As próstatas foram coletadas para análises morfológicas, morfométrico-estereológicas, imuno-histoquímicas e ultraestruturais. Testículos e ovários foram submetidos a análises morfológicas e morfométrico-estereológicas. Os níveis séricos de testosterona e 17β-estradiol foram mensurados por ELISA. Machos e fêmeas tratados com crisina não apresentaram aumento dos níveis séricos de testosterona. No entanto, apenas as fêmeas tratadas com crisina durante 21 dias demonstraram aumento nos níveis séricos de estradiol. Foram observados tanto na próstata ventral masculina, quanto na próstata feminina em todos os tempos de tratamento com crisina, aumento da frequência de receptores androgênicos (AR), maior taxa de proliferação e hiperplasia glandular. Além disso, foi observada nas fêmeas em todos os tempos de exposição com crisina maior frequência imunomarcação para receptor estrogênico alfa (ERα). Ultraestruturalmente, machos e fêmeas tratados com crisina apresentaram intenso desenvolvimento das organelas da rota biossintética-secretora, acompanhada de intensa remodelação estromal, enquanto toxicidade celular foi observada apenas nas fêmeas. Nas gônadas masculinas o tratamento com crisina preservou a morfologia testicular. Em fêmeas, observou-se um maior número de folículos ovarianos em maturação. Comparativamente o tratamento com cipionato de testosterona foi capaz de causar lesões na próstata e gônadas, visto que focos de neoplasia intraepitelial prostática e degeneração gonadal foram observados em ambos os sexos. Esses resultados demonstram que a exposição à crisina, preservou a morfologia testicular normal, aumentou o número de folículos ovarianos em crescimento, aumentou a atividade secretória e alterou a regulação de receptores hormonais na próstata, potencializando a resposta desta glândula aos efeitos biológicos dos esteróides endógenos. Assim nas condições experimentais desse estudo embora a crisina e a testosterona evocassem alterações morfológicas semelhantes na próstata gerbilos masculina e feminina, a suplementação com crisina foi mais favorável à saúde da próstata. Contudo, a administração de crisina como agente fitoterápico deve ser considerada com precaução, visto que esse flavonóide parece exercer efeitos diferenciais em machos e fêmeas.
Chrysin is a naturally occurring biologically active compound found predominantly in blue passion flower, honey, chamomile, propolis and fruit peel. It has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and has been used for the treatment of reproductive disorders. This flavone has the potential to increase endogenous testosterone levels both by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme and stimulating testicular steroidogenesis. Changes in hormone metabolism mediated by exogenous interferences may interfere with the prostatic physiology resulting in changes in the secretory activity of the gland and in the regulation of hormonal receptors. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the exposure to chrysin on the prostate and gonads of adult gerbils. To evaluate the androgenic potential of chrysin, we comparatively analysed the effects of testosterone on these organs. Male and female gerbils aged 90 days were treated with either chrysin (50 mg/kg/day) or testosterone cypionate (1 mg/kg/week), subdivided into 3 subgroups and euthanized after 3, 7 and 21 days of treatment. The prostates and gonads were collected for morphological, morphometric-stereological, ultrastructural and immunehistochemical analyses. The testes and ovaries were subjected to morphological and morphometric-stereological analyses. Serum levels of testosterone and 17β-estradiol were determined using ELISA methods. Males and females treated with chrysin did not show increase in serum testosterone levels. However, only the females treated with chrysin for 21 days showed increase in the serum levels of estradiol. It was observed in both ventral prostate of males and in prostate of females in all the times of treatment with chrysin an increase in the frequency of androgen receptors (AR), a higher rate of proliferation and glandular hyperplasia. In addition, it was observed in all exposure times of females treated with chrysin a higher immunoreactivity frequency for alpha estrogen receptor (ERα). As to ultrastructure, males and females treated with chrysin showed intense development of the organelles of the biosynthetic-secretory route, accompanied by intense stromal remodeling. Cell toxicity was observed only in females. In the gonads of males the treatment with chrysin preserved testicular morphology. In females, we observed a larger number of ovarian follicles in maturation. Comparatively, the treatment with testosterone cypionate was able to cause lesions in the prostate and gonads, since the foci of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and gonadal degeneration were observed in both sexes. These results demonstrate that exposure to chrysin preserved normal testicular morphology, increased the number of ovarian follicles in growth, higher activity of secretory and changed the regulation of hormone receptors in the prostate potentiating the response of this gland to the biological effects of endogenous steroids. Therefore, under the experimental conditions of this study, although the chrysin and testosterone evoked similar morphological changes to those in the prostate of both sexes, supplementation with chrysin appeared to be more favorable to the prostate health. However, the chrysin intake as a phytotherapic agent should be considered with caution given that this flavonoid seems to exert distinct effects in males and females.
Chrysin is a naturally occurring biologically active compound found predominantly in blue passion flower, honey, chamomile, propolis and fruit peel. It has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and has been used for the treatment of reproductive disorders. This flavone has the potential to increase endogenous testosterone levels both by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme and stimulating testicular steroidogenesis. Changes in hormone metabolism mediated by exogenous interferences may interfere with the prostatic physiology resulting in changes in the secretory activity of the gland and in the regulation of hormonal receptors. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the exposure to chrysin on the prostate and gonads of adult gerbils. To evaluate the androgenic potential of chrysin, we comparatively analysed the effects of testosterone on these organs. Male and female gerbils aged 90 days were treated with either chrysin (50 mg/kg/day) or testosterone cypionate (1 mg/kg/week), subdivided into 3 subgroups and euthanized after 3, 7 and 21 days of treatment. The prostates and gonads were collected for morphological, morphometric-stereological, ultrastructural and immunehistochemical analyses. The testes and ovaries were subjected to morphological and morphometric-stereological analyses. Serum levels of testosterone and 17β-estradiol were determined using ELISA methods. Males and females treated with chrysin did not show increase in serum testosterone levels. However, only the females treated with chrysin for 21 days showed increase in the serum levels of estradiol. It was observed in both ventral prostate of males and in prostate of females in all the times of treatment with chrysin an increase in the frequency of androgen receptors (AR), a higher rate of proliferation and glandular hyperplasia. In addition, it was observed in all exposure times of females treated with chrysin a higher immunoreactivity frequency for alpha estrogen receptor (ERα). As to ultrastructure, males and females treated with chrysin showed intense development of the organelles of the biosynthetic-secretory route, accompanied by intense stromal remodeling. Cell toxicity was observed only in females. In the gonads of males the treatment with chrysin preserved testicular morphology. In females, we observed a larger number of ovarian follicles in maturation. Comparatively, the treatment with testosterone cypionate was able to cause lesions in the prostate and gonads, since the foci of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and gonadal degeneration were observed in both sexes. These results demonstrate that exposure to chrysin preserved normal testicular morphology, increased the number of ovarian follicles in growth, higher activity of secretory and changed the regulation of hormone receptors in the prostate potentiating the response of this gland to the biological effects of endogenous steroids. Therefore, under the experimental conditions of this study, although the chrysin and testosterone evoked similar morphological changes to those in the prostate of both sexes, supplementation with chrysin appeared to be more favorable to the prostate health. However, the chrysin intake as a phytotherapic agent should be considered with caution given that this flavonoid seems to exert distinct effects in males and females.
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Palavras-chave
Testosterona, Flavonóides, Histopatologia, Gerbilos, Receptores hormonais, Flavonoids, Histopathology, Gerbils, Hormonal receptors, Testosterone