Biological interaction between stem cells and the steroid receptors in the coagulating gland from elderly and young rats

• Grant number: 10/01641-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2010
• End date: December 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Anatomy
• Principal Investigator: Valéria Helena Alves Cagnon Quitete
• Grantee: Karoline de Barros Waitman
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The stem cell characterization has indicated new ways to unveil the complexity of the accessory sexual glands. However, the stem cell niche in the coagulating gland is unclear, due to difficulty to identify these cells. The coagulating gland is an important accessory sex organ to reproductive process of rodents. Its secretion is crucial to spermatozoid motility, semen coagulation, and formation of copulatory plug in female. The senescence is a period of life in which occurs morphological and functional changes in the coagulating gland. Thus, taking into consideration all these facts, the main objective of the present study is to characterize and isolate the stem cells in the stromal and epithelial compartment of the coagulating gland from elderly and young rats submitted to androgen depletion as well as to relate to occurrence of these cells and steroid hormone receptors. Twelve senile male rats (Sprague-Dawley) (10 month old) and six young rats (3 month old) will be divided into three groups: The Senile group and the young group will receive 5mL/kg peanut oil every other day for 30 days and the castrated group in which the rats will be anesthetized and submitted to surgical and chemical castration (will receive 10mg/Kg Flutamide every other day per 30 days). After 30 days, the coagulating gland will be collected and submitted to morphological and immunological and hormonal dosages. The antibodies AR, ±ER, ²ER, CD44, CD117, p63, ABCG2 and vimentin will be verified. (AU)