Effects of metformin on the adrenal cortex of androgenized rats

• Published in: Gynecological endocrinology 2015-08, Vol.31 (8), p.609-612
• Main Authors: Macedo, Lilian Alves, Carbonel, Adriana Aparecida Ferraz, Simões, Ricardo Santos, Fuchs, Luiz Fernando Portugal, do Amaral, Vinicius Cestari, Simoncini, Tommaso, Simões, Manuel Jesus Santos, Baracat, Edmund Chada, Maria Soares, José
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex - blood supply; Adrenal Cortex - drug effects; Adrenal Cortex - pathology; Adrenal glands; Androstenedione - blood; Animals; Female; hyperandrogenism; Hypoglycemic Agents - pharmacology; metformin; Metformin - pharmacology; Metformin - therapeutic use; morphology; Organ Size - drug effects; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - blood; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - chemically induced; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - drug therapy; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - pathology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Testosterone Propionate
• ISSN: 0951-3590; 1473-0766
• DOI: 10.3109/09513590.2015.1019342

Objective: To evaluate the sex steroid profile and histomorphometry of the adrenal cortical zones of androgenized rats (wistar) with polycystic ovary syndrome treated with metformin. Study design: Thirty animals were divided into three groups: GC (regular estrous cycle), GPE (permanent estrus), and GPEM (permanent estrus + metformin 28 mg/kg for 50 days). At the end of this period, blood was collected for hormone measurement. The width of the adrenal cortical zones and the nuclear volumes were analyzed by histomorphometry. The ANOVA test was used in the statistical analysis. Results: The adrenal glands of the androgenized animals were larger and more intensely vascularized than those of the other groups. The concentration of androstenedione in GPE was higher than that in the other groups (0.4 ± 0.1*>= 0.2 ± 0.1 = 0.2 ± 01, *p  GPEM = GC, *p