Artículos de revistas
Study of the ventral prostate of Wistar rats treated with Heteropterys tomentosa (A. Juss.)
Fecha
2012Registro en:
Journal of Medicinal Plant Research, v. 6, n. 44, p. 5640-5646, 2012.
1996-0875
10.5897/JMPR12.421
ISSN1996-0875-2012-06-44-5640-5646.pdf
1445259468526188
2439607295694031
0000-0002-0970-4288
Autor
Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)
Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES)
Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Institución
Resumen
Heteropterys tomentosa is a Brazilian plant traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and stimulant. Previous studies suggested possible androgenic and antioxidant effects after long term administration of H. tomentosa infusion. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of this plant infusion on the rat ventral prostate: an androgen responsive organ. Wistar rats were treated, by gavage, with H. tomentosa roots infusion (treated group, n=6) or water (control group, n=6) for 56 days. Morphological, morphometrical and stereological analyses were employed to study the ventral prostate tissue, as well as androgen receptor and apoptotic cell staining. The ultrastructure of the prostatic epithelium was also analyzed. No alteration was observed in the stereological and morphometrical analyses. The pattern of androgen receptor expression and the apoptotic index were identical in the control and treated group. Ultrastructural analysis showed no alterations caused by H. tomentosa. These results suggested that treatment with H. tomentosa infusion, although considered a strong aphrodisiac, did not cause any major damage nor benefit to the prostate tissue.