Corticosterone influences gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) prostatic morphophysiology and alters its proliferation and apoptosis rates

Condyloma acuminata: An evaluation of the immune response at cellular and molecular levels

Condyloma acuminata (CA) is a benign proliferative disease mainly affecting in non-keratinized epithelia. Most cases of CA are caused by low-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), mainly HPV 6 and 11. The aim of the current study was to highlight the candidate genes and pathways associated with immune alterations in individuals who did not spontaneously eliminate the virus and, thus, develop genital warts. Paraffin-embedded condyloma samples (n = 56) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against CD1a, FOXP3, CD3, CD4, CD8, and IFN-γ. The immunomarkers were chosen based on the evaluation of the innate and adaptive immune pathways using qPCR analysis of 92 immune-related genes, applying a TaqMan Array Immune Response assay in HPV 6 or HPV 11 positive samples (n = 27). Gene expression analysis revealed 31 differentially expressed genes in CA lesions. Gene expression validation revealed upregulation of GZMB, IFNG, IL12B, and IL8 and downregulation of NFATC4 and IL7 in CA samples. Immunohistochemical analysis showed increased FOXP3, IFN-γ, CD1a, and CD4 expression in CA than in the control tissue samples. In contrast, CD3 and CD8 expression was decreased in CA lesion samples. Increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in HPV-positive patients compared with HPV-negative patients seem to reflect the elevated immunogenicity of HPV-positive CA lesions. Host defense against HPV begins during the early stages of the innate immune response and is followed by activation of T lymphocytes, which are mainly represented by CD4+ and regulatory T cells. The low CD8+ T cell count in CA may contribute to this recurrent behavior. Additional studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism of host defense against HPV infection in CA.

Fetal programming by high-fat diet promoted the decreased of the prostate in adult Wistar albino rats

We investigated the effect of a high-fat diet on body metabolism and ventral prostate morphology in 4-months-old offspring. The mother was fed with a control (C) or a high-fat (HF) diet during gestation and lactation. At weaning, the offspring diet remained the same (C/C, n = 8; HF/HF, n = 8) or it was switched (C/HF, n = 8; HF/C, n = 9). Biometry, blood pressure (BP), glucose, lipid metabolism and ventral prostate were evaluated. Triacylglycerol of HF/C increased, and the C/HF group had decreased HDL-c levels (P = 0.0005 and P = 0.0100, respectively). All groups on the HF diet presented hyperglycemia (P = 0.0064). Serum testosterone diminished in the C/HF group (P = 0.0218). The HF diet, regardless of the period, reduced prostatic acinar area (P < 0.0001). The epithelium height was smaller in HF/C and HF/HF groups compared with C/C and C/HF (P < 0.0001), and the volume density of epithelium was lower in HF/C group compared with the C/C and C/HF (P = 0.0024). The volume density of smooth muscle cells diminished in C/HF and HF/C (P = 0.0013), and the volume density of connective tissue was reduced in HF/C and HF/HF (P < 0.0001). High-fat diet intake during prenatal and postnatal life leads to prostatic atrophy, which may impair prostate secretory activity and contractility, and thus disturb reproductive function in adulthood.

Maternal supplementation with corn oil associated or not with di-n-butyl phthalate increases circulating estradiol levels of gerbil offspring and impairs sperm reserve

This study evaluated the consequences of gestational exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) for testicular steroidogenesis and sperm parameters of the adult gerbil and the interference of corn oil (co), a vehicle widely used for administration of liposoluble agents, on DBP effects. Pregnant gerbils received no treatment or were treated from gestational day 8 to 23 via gavage with 0.1 mL/day of co only or containing DBP (100 mg/kg/day). Maternal co intake enhanced serum estradiol levels and testicular content of ERα, and reduced sperm reserve of adult offspring. Gestational DBP exposure caused dyslipidemia, increased serum and intratesticular estradiol levels and reduced sperm reserve and motility. Thus, maternal co supplementation alters circulating estradiol and impairs sperm quantity and quality of offspring. Gestational DBP exposure alters lipid metabolism and testicular steroidogenesis and worsens the negative effects of co on the sperm reserve and motility of gerbil. Therefore, co interferes with the reproductive response to DBP.