Efeitos da gonadotrofina coriônica humana no tecido testicular normal de ratos

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hormone therapy is used to induce testicular descent cryptic and / or to locate impalpable testes. There is still controversy regarding its safety and efficacy, with results that vary widely and depend on many factors. Experimental studies in rats have shown little benefit and even deleterious effects, with changes in histology of contralateral testes or cryptic. This study aims to investigate the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in testicular tissue of normal immature male rats without cryptorchidism, by histological evaluation of the testes. METHOD: 30 male Wistar rats (30-45 days) were divided into 3 groups of 10 rats. The control group received saline subcutaneously (SC), the Group received one dose of hCG in 50UI/Kg/dose, and Group 2, at a dose of hCG 100UI/Kg/dose, all daily for 15 days. Half of the animals in each group (5 animals) underwent bilateral orchiectomy under anesthesia and, after euthanasia, with 16 days after start of the hormone. The other half, beginning 45 days after the injection of the hormone. The testes were weighed, measured and determined their volumes. Histological analyzes were performed qualitative and quantitative measures with the seminiferous tubule diameter and thickness of the seminiferous epithelium. Used parametric tests (ANOVA) and nonparametric (Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis), with significant p value 0.05. RESULTS: Statistically significant difference in weight and testicular volume between the groups in both operations. The control group showed higher values. All mice in the control group, regardless of the time of the operation, had normal testicular histology. In G1 and G2 in the majority of mice in the first few mice operation and the second operation in G1 observed atrophy with degeneration of the seminiferous tubules and reduce the number of germ cells (apoptosis), germ cell shedding into the lumen , abnormal presence of giant cells and vacuolation of Sertoli cells. Comparing the groups, in the first operation the control group had higher values of the diameter of the G1 and G2, which were similar. In the second operation, the control group had higher values and differed only in G1. The G2 did not differ from the control or the G1. We observed a statistically significant difference between groups in thickness in both operations. The control group had higher values than the G1 and G2, which were similar to each other. Comparing the operation time for the diameter, was found statistically significant differences in the groups G1 and G2, where the second operation values were higher. And for thickness in all groups where the second operating values were higher. CONCLUSION: Human chorionic gonadotropin is gonadotoxic when used in normal mice, may determine testicular degeneration, inducing apoptosis and formation of giant cells, and desquamation of the germinal epithelium. This effect was at least temporarily and animals undergoing this treatment may change their productive potential. This study could demonstrate parcial recovery of testicular damage in the range studied and the effects were not dose dependent. More studies should be done with long-term assessments of the effects of hCG on testicular tissue for greater security in their clinical use.