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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Effects of melatonin on ovarian follicles

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Author(s):
Maganhin, Carla Cristina [1] ; Portugal Fuchs, Luiz Fernando [2] ; Simoes, Ricardo Santos [2] ; Oliveira-Filho, Ricardo Martins [3] ; Simoes, Manuel de Jesus [4] ; Baracat, Edmund Chada [2] ; Soares, Jr., Jose Maria [2]
Total Authors: 7
Affiliation:
[1] Sao Paulo Fed Univ UNIFESP, Dept Gynecol, BR-04038031 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Gynecol Div, Dept Obstet & Gynecol, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Pharmacol, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[4] Sao Paulo Fed Univ EPM UNIFESP, Dept Morphol & Genet, BR-04023009 Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY; v. 166, n. 2, p. 178-184, FEB 2013.
Web of Science Citations: 22
Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the histomorphometry and expression of Ki-67 and c-kit in ovarian follicles of pinealectomized or melatonin-treated pinealectomized rats. Study design: Forty adult rats were randomly divided into four groups of 10 animals: Group I - control; Group II - sham-pinealectomized; Group III - pinealectomized (Px), and Group IV - Px treated with melatonin (10 mu g/night, per animal). After two months' treatment, on the night of proestrous, the animals were placed in metabolic cages for night urine collection and subsequent measurement of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-SMT). The rats were anesthetized, blood samples were taken for estrogen and progesterone determinations, and they were then euthanized. The ovaries were dissected out for further histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Data were first submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA) complemented with the Tukey-Kramer test for multiple comparisons (P < 0.05). Results: The urinary levels of 6-SMT and serum progesterone were lower in the Px group (GIII). Exogenous melatonin treatment restored both blood melatonin and 6-SMT urinary levels. The histomorphometric data in Group III revealed a significant increase of degenerating antral and nonantral follicles with regard to the other groups. In addition no corpora lutea were observed in this group. No significant differences were noticed regarding the number of corpora lutea among the other groups (I, II and IV), but the number of cells and the thickness of the theca interna of Px animals (Group III) were higher than in the other groups. Conversely, the density of progesterone receptors (fmol/g) in the ovaries of Group III was significantly lower than in the other groups. Conclusion: Our data indicate that melatonin exerts a role on the maintenance of a proper follicular function, and is thus important for ovulation and progesterone production. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)