Expression of estrogen and androgen receptors in the testicle of stallions with testicular degeneration treated with pentoxifylline

• Grant number: 16/03442-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2016
• End date: May 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Frederico Ozanam Papa
• Grantee: Yamê Fabres Robaina Sancler da Silva
• Supervisor: Barry Allen Ball
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Kentucky (UK), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 14/00535-4 - Effect of treatment with pentoxifylline on testicular and sperm parameters in stallions with testicular degeneration, BP.DR

Abstract

Androgen receptors (ARs) and estrogen receptors (ER-± and ER-ß) are important in male reproductive tract biology such as in the regulation of factors that maintain spermatogenesis and ensure the production of a physiological environment for sperm maturation. Thus the immunohistochemistry evaluation of the expression of these steroid receptors is critical to evaluate the functionality of this tissue, as well as to predict possible disorders. In this manner this study aims to evaluate the effect of testicular degeneration, and of oral treatment with pentoxifylline in this stallions, in the expression of estrogen and testosterone receptors in testicular parenchyma. Twenty four stallions will be randomly divided into three groups (n = 8 stallions/group): TD+PTX GROUP - composed by stallions undergone to testicular degeneration by insulation and after that, these animals will be treated with pentoxifylline (17 mg/kg, twice a day for a month); TD GROUP: composed by stallions undergone to testicular degeneration by insulation and after that, these animals will not receive any treatment; CONTROL GROUP - composed by stallion preserved under normal conditions. Testicular biopsies will be carried out at day 30 and day 60 from the time of insulation, in all groups. The tissue fragments will be processed by conventional method of histopathology and the protein localization of ER-±, ER-ß and AR will be investigated by immunohistochemistry, using antibodies previously validated for the horse. Slides will be observed at 40× and 100× magnification microscopy. Data generated will be compared among the groups by nonparametric pairwise Wilcoxon test. The knowledge provided by this study will allow a better understanding of the pathophysiology of testicular degeneration and the use the IHC as a diagnostic method for this disorder. Also, shall be able to assess therapy that promises to accelerate regeneration in stallions with testicular degeneration. (AU)