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Ruiz TFR, Vilamaior PSL, Grigio V, Colleta SJ, Zucão MI, de Campos SGP, Dos Santos FCA, Biancardi MF, Perez APS, Taboga SR, Leonel ECR. The Mongolian Gerbil as a Useful Experimental Model in Reproductive Biology. Reprod Sci 2023; 30:2092-2106. [PMID: 36696041 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01171-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Ultimately, the Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) have acquired a relevant role in biological and biomedical experiments alongside other rodents. The use of gerbils in research has been mainly oriented to physiological and pharmacological studies, with special attention to nervous, digestive, and auditory systems as well as microbiology and parasitology. Ultimately, gerbils have also been applied for studying carcinogenesis in different organs and systems, since these animals show a natural propensity to develop spontaneous proliferative lesions, especially in steroid-responsive organs. This characteristic shed light on the reproductive aspects of this rodent model regarding morphological features in male and female individuals. This review of literature summarizes the significance of this model as an alternative to the use of inbred mice and rats in reproductive experimental research, highlighting recent findings. Gerbils have contributed to the expansion of knowledge in prostate biology in male and female individuals, providing studies related to prostatic morphogenesis and neoplasia. In the testes, spermiogenesis occurs in 15 steps, differently from other experimental models. Also, the complete maturation of the testis-epididymal complex occurs between the second and third months. Mammary gland alterations related to the estrous cycle and pregnancy were described, as well as its modulation under endogenous and exogenous estrogenic compounds. The ovaries frequently present ovarian cysts. Furthermore, this organ shows predominantly interstitial steroidogenic glands in the stroma, especially at aging. Adrenal gland shows a large size compared to other animals, presenting three distinct zones with a remarkable role in steroidogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalles Fernando Rocha Ruiz
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265 Jardim Nazareth, São José Do Rio Preto, SP, 15054-000, Brazil
- Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Patricia Simone Leite Vilamaior
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265 Jardim Nazareth, São José Do Rio Preto, SP, 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Vitor Grigio
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265 Jardim Nazareth, São José Do Rio Preto, SP, 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Simone Jacovaci Colleta
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265 Jardim Nazareth, São José Do Rio Preto, SP, 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Mariele Ilario Zucão
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265 Jardim Nazareth, São José Do Rio Preto, SP, 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Silvana Gisele Pegorin de Campos
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265 Jardim Nazareth, São José Do Rio Preto, SP, 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Cristina Alcântara Dos Santos
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Avenida Esperança, S/N, Câmpus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás, 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Manoel Francisco Biancardi
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Avenida Esperança, S/N, Câmpus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás, 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Silva Perez
- Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Medicine Course, Federal University of Jataí, BR 36, Km 195, Jataí, Goiás, 75801-615, Brazil
| | - Sebastião Roberto Taboga
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265 Jardim Nazareth, São José Do Rio Preto, SP, 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Ellen Cristina Rivas Leonel
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Avenida Esperança, S/N, Câmpus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás, 74690-900, Brazil.
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da Silva Lima D, da Silva Gomes L, de Sousa Figueredo E, E Silva YIF, Silva EM, de Souza Bovi T, Taboga SR, Marques MR, Biancardi MF, Dos Santos FCA. Subacute exposure to aluminum chloride causes prolonged morphological insults in the ventral male prostate and in the female prostate of adult gerbils. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2022; 37:299-309. [PMID: 34726835 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Aluminum (Al) is a widespread metal in the environment, and is found in fresh or processed foods, household utensils, packaging, and medicines. In addition to its high toxicity, Al can also have estrogenic agonistic effects on target organs. Considering that the Al effects on the prostate are little known, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of aluminum chloride (AlCl3 ) subacute exposure on the morphophysiology of the male ventral prostate and the female prostate of adult gerbils. Furthermore, the glandular restoration capacity in face of the Al insults was evaluated in gerbils that were submitted to 30 days of recovery. Male and female gerbils were orally exposed to AlCl3 (10 mg/kg) for 30 consecutive days. The animals were euthanized 1 day (Al1D) or 30 days (Al30D) after the end of treatment. Prostates were dissected out and processed for structural, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical analyses. Male ventral prostates and female prostates of the Al1D group showed increased cell proliferation, glandular hyperplasia, increased secretory activity and greater androgen receptor immunoreactivity. In males, Al withdrawal (Al30D) allowed a partial recovery of the prostate, as the glandular secretory activity, and frequency of androgen receptor positive cells were similar to the control group. In females, the recuperation interval (Al30D) was not enough to restore the prostatic morphology, since the gland remained hyperplastic, proliferative, and with greater androgen and estrogen receptor immunoreactivity. These data alert to the importance of avoiding Al exposure, since this metal can have a harmful and prolonged action on the prostate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo da Silva Lima
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Microscopy Applied to Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Liana da Silva Gomes
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Microscopy Applied to Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Esther de Sousa Figueredo
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Microscopy Applied to Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Yasmin Inocêncio Fernandes E Silva
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Microscopy Applied to Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Edvaldo Mendes Silva
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Microscopy Applied to Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Thais de Souza Bovi
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Microscopy Applied to Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Sebastião Roberto Taboga
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Microscopy and Microanalysis, State University of São Paulo - UNESP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mara Rúbia Marques
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Microscopy Applied to Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Manoel Francisco Biancardi
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Microscopy Applied to Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Cristina Alcantara Dos Santos
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cell Biology, Laboratory of Microscopy Applied to Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
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Leonel ECR, Ruiz TFR, Bedolo CM, Campos SGP, Taboga SR. Inflammatory repercussions in female steroid responsive glands after perinatal exposure to bisphenol A and 17-β estradiol. Cell Biol Int 2021; 45:2264-2274. [PMID: 34288236 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The mammary gland (MG) and female prostate are plastic reproductive organs which are highly responsive to hormones. Thus, endocrine disruptors, such as bisphenol A (BPA) and exogenous estrogens, negatively affect glandular homeostasis. In addition to previously described alterations, changes in inflammatory markers expression also trigger the development of a microenvironment that contributes to tumor progression. The current work aimed to evaluate the inflammatory responses of the MG and prostate gland to BPA (50 µg/kg) and 17-β estradiol (35 µg/kg) exposure during the perinatal window of susceptibility. The results showed that at 6 months of age there was an increase in the number of phospho-STAT3 (P-STAT3) positive cells in the female prostate from animals perinatally exposed to 50 µg/kg BPA daily. In addition, the number of macrophages increased in these animals in comparison with nonexposed animals, as shown by the F4/80 marker. Despite an increase in the incidence of lobuloalveolar and intraductal hyperplasia, the MG did not show any difference in the expression of the four inflammatory markers evaluated: tumor necrosis factor-α, COX-2, P-STAT3, and F4/80. Analysis of both glands from the same animal led to the conclusion that exposure to endocrine disruptors during the perinatal window of susceptibility leads to different inflammatory responses in different reproductive organs. As the prostate is more susceptible to these inflammatory mechanisms, it is reasonable to affirm that possible neoplastic alterations in this organ are related to changes in the inflammatory pattern of the stroma, a characteristic that is not evident in the MG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Cristina Rivas Leonel
- Department of Biology, Humanities, and Exact Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Histology, Embriology, and Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB III), Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Thalles Fernando Rocha Ruiz
- Department of Biology, Humanities, and Exact Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolina Marques Bedolo
- Department of Biology, Humanities, and Exact Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Silvana Gisele Pegorin Campos
- Department of Biology, Humanities, and Exact Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sebastião Roberto Taboga
- Department of Biology, Humanities, and Exact Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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