CHANGES OF SPLEEN IN WISTAR RATS EXPOSED TO THERAPEUTIC DOSES OF DEXAMETHASONE AND MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE EVALUATED BY STEREOLOGICAL PARAMETERS
Journal
Prilozi (Makedonska akademija na naukite i umetnostite. Oddelenie za medicinski nauki)
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
DOI
10.1515/prilozi-2015-0074
Abstract
The aim of our investigation was to evaluate the immunosuppressive effect of medroxyprogesterone
acetate (MPA) determining the volume densities of the structural components of the spleen. The
volume densities of the same structural components of spleen were determined after administration
of dexamethasone too, in order to see whether the morphological changes induced by MPA are in the
same line with the changes caused by dexamethasone.
60 female Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups. The control group of rats was administered phy siological solution. The remaining, 4 experimental groups were administered: dexamethasone at a
therapeutic daily dose of 0.6 mg/kg bw and maximal therapeutic dose of 3 mg/kg bw, and MPA at a
therapeutic dose of 30 mg/kg bw and maximal therapeutic dose of 150 mg/kg bw. The drugs were
applied intramuscularly for 7 days. Spleen paraffin sections were stained according to the methods:
hematoxylin-eosin, Masson and Elastica van-Gieson. Stereological measurements were performed
by using the Weibl’s multipurpose test system (M-42).
The histological analyses of the structural components of the spleen in rats treated with dexametha sone and MPA have shown reduction of the white pulp and the marginal zone and an apparent
decrease of the cellular density of the lymphocyte component of the pulp. The stereological analysis
of the spleen showed significant decrease of the splenic pulp volume density and significant increase
of the connective tissue volume density. Reducing the presence of splenic pulp was mainly due to the
decrease in the volume density of all structural components of the white pulp. Changes were obser ved in all drug treated groups of rats.
Our results have shown that the MPA provoked changes suggested atrophy of the spleen lymphoid
tissue. Although the atrophic changes of the spleen were significant after the application of both
dexamethasone and MPA, the white pulp was significantly more sensitive substrate for dexametha sone than for the MPA
acetate (MPA) determining the volume densities of the structural components of the spleen. The
volume densities of the same structural components of spleen were determined after administration
of dexamethasone too, in order to see whether the morphological changes induced by MPA are in the
same line with the changes caused by dexamethasone.
60 female Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups. The control group of rats was administered phy siological solution. The remaining, 4 experimental groups were administered: dexamethasone at a
therapeutic daily dose of 0.6 mg/kg bw and maximal therapeutic dose of 3 mg/kg bw, and MPA at a
therapeutic dose of 30 mg/kg bw and maximal therapeutic dose of 150 mg/kg bw. The drugs were
applied intramuscularly for 7 days. Spleen paraffin sections were stained according to the methods:
hematoxylin-eosin, Masson and Elastica van-Gieson. Stereological measurements were performed
by using the Weibl’s multipurpose test system (M-42).
The histological analyses of the structural components of the spleen in rats treated with dexametha sone and MPA have shown reduction of the white pulp and the marginal zone and an apparent
decrease of the cellular density of the lymphocyte component of the pulp. The stereological analysis
of the spleen showed significant decrease of the splenic pulp volume density and significant increase
of the connective tissue volume density. Reducing the presence of splenic pulp was mainly due to the
decrease in the volume density of all structural components of the white pulp. Changes were obser ved in all drug treated groups of rats.
Our results have shown that the MPA provoked changes suggested atrophy of the spleen lymphoid
tissue. Although the atrophic changes of the spleen were significant after the application of both
dexamethasone and MPA, the white pulp was significantly more sensitive substrate for dexametha sone than for the MPA