Expression of Oestrogen and Progesterone Receptors in the Ovary Following Administration of Combined Extracts of Lophira lanceolata and Alchornea cordifolia on Menopausal Albino Wistar Rats

E., Fischer, C.; A., Fischer, V.; A., Eluwa, M.; E., Ebong P.

doi:10.21608/eajbsd.2020.86257

Expression of Oestrogen and Progesterone Receptors in the Ovary Following Administration of Combined Extracts of Lophira lanceolata and Alchornea cordifolia on Menopausal Albino Wistar Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

² Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

³ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

10.21608/eajbsd.2020.86257

Abstract

Many women still believe herbal medicines will delay the onset of menopause, regularise oestrus cycles in the perimenopausal period and improve the chances of conceiving. At menopause oestrogen and progesterone are no longer produced by the ovaries. This study examined the expression of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in the ovary of menopausal rat models. Twenty-five healthy female albino wistar ratswere randomly divided into 5 groups of five animals each. Groups A, C, D and E consisted of menopausal rats. Group B consisted of young rats. Groups A was negative control (irregularly cycling menopausal rats). Group B served as a positive control (young regularly cycling rats). Groups C, D, and E were the experimental groups made up of irregularly cycling menopausal rats. Extract administration of Lophira lanceolata and Alchornea cordifolia to the treated groups was for 21 days. Animals were sacrificed on the 22^nd day, on the pro-oestrus phase and the ovaries excised for further analysis. Ovaries from positive control and the treatment groups showed normal histological features consistent with the pro-oestrus phase. Group C animals treated with combined extract had multiple Graafian follicles. The results of this study showed that progesterone receptors were poorly expressed in the negative control as well as in all the treatment groups. The positive control and the combined extract-treated groups showed strong staining intensity while the other groups showed moderate staining intensity. The results demonstrate likely oestrogen expression in ovaries of rats that received extracts particularly in combination and possible delayed onset of menopause.

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