Influence of different doses of corticosterone on the prostate of gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

Abstract

The prostate is a gland of the reproductive system that originates from the embryonic urogenital sinus. Prostate can present highly developed because of the presence of the testosterone, and although poorly developed in females, due to the low quantity of the same hormone. In adult male gerbils, the prostate is composed of four lobes strongly associated with the urethra: the anterior lobe and coagulating gland (CG), dorsal lobe (LD), dorsolateral lobe (LDL) and ventral lobe (VL). The LDL is located craniolaterally, inserted between the bladder and the ducts of the seminal vesicle and the GC. The prostatic physiology is regulated by steroid hormones, particularly androgens and estrogens. Androgens induce differentiation, development, and secretory activity and estrogens appear to modulate androgenic effects, while maintaining growth and normal physiology of the prostate. Although cortisol is a hormone widely used in medicine because of the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, however little is known about the side effects of these drugs, especially in prostatic morphophysiology. Furthermore, it is known that this hormone is highly correlated with the stress and some behavioral disorders. Thus, this project aims to evaluate, by histological methods, histochemical, immunocytochemical and structural qualitative and quantitative parameters, several morphofunctional aspects of the prostate gland in males, mainly due to the influence of corticosterone applied in different doses and periods. (AU)