Structural and histomorphometric evaluations of ferutinin effects on the uterus of ovariectomized rats during osteoporosis treatment.

Abstract

AIMS:

The effects of chronic administration of Ferutinin (phytoestrogen found in the plants of genus Ferula), compared with those elicited by estradiol benzoate, were evaluated, following ovariectomy, on the uterus of ovariectomized rats as regard weight, size, structure and histomorphometry.

MAIN METHODS:

The experimental study included 40 female Sprague-Dawley rats, assigned to two different protocols, i.e. preventive and recovering. In the preventive protocol, ferutinin (2mg/kg/day) was orally administered for 30days, starting from the day after ovariectomy; in the recovering protocol, ferutinin was administered, at the same dosage, for 30days starting from the 60th day after ovariectomy, when osteoporosis was clearly established. Its effects were compared with those of estradiol benzoate (1.5μg per rat twice a week, subcutaneously injected) vs. vehicle-treated ovariectomized controls and vehicle-treated sham-operated controls. Uteri were removed, weighed and analysed under both the structural and histomorphometrical points of view.

KEY FINDINGS:

Our data show that ferutinin acts, similarly to estradiol benzoate, on the uterus stimulating endometrial and myometrial hypertrophy; this notwithstanding, the phytoestrogen ferutinin, in contrast to estrogen treatment, appears to increase apoptosis in uterine luminal and glandular epithelia.

SIGNIFICANCE:

Ferutinin, used in osteoporosis treatment primarily for bone mass recovering, seems in line with an eventual protective function against uterine carcinoma, unlike estrogens so far employed in hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

• Authors: Marzia Ferretti, Laura Bertoni, Francesco Cavani, Marta Benincasa, Paola Sena, Gianluca Carnevale, Manuela Zavatti, Vittoria Di Viesti, Paola Zanoli, Carla Palumbo
• Journal: Life sciences (Life Sci) Vol. 90 Issue 3-4 Pg. 161-8 (Jan 16 2012) ISSN: 1879-0631 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 22100510 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Benzoates
• Bridged Bicyclo Compounds
• Cycloheptanes
• Sesquiterpenes
• 4-oxy-6-(4-oxybezoyloxy)dauc-8,9-en

Topics

• Animals
• Benzoates (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Bone Density (drug effects, physiology)
• Bridged Bicyclo Compounds (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Cycloheptanes (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical (methods)
• Female
• Osteoporosis (drug therapy, pathology)
• Ovariectomy
• Random Allocation
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Sesquiterpenes (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• Uterus (drug effects, pathology)