The role of androgens in the development of cardiovascular diseases remains controversial. The current study therefore sought to determine the changes in the histomorphology of the common carotid artery of the male rat in orchidectomy-induced hypogonadism. Twenty-two Rattus norvegicus male rats aged 2 months were used. The rats were randomly assigned into baseline (n=4), experimental (n=9), and control (n=9) groups. Hypogonadism was surgically induced in the experimental group by bilateral orchiectomy under local anesthesia. At experiment weeks 3, 6, and 9, three rats from each group (experimental and control) were euthanized, their common carotid artery harvested, and routine processing was done for paraffin embedding, sectioning, and staining. The photomicrographs were taken using a digital photomicroscope for morphometric analysis. Orchidectomy resulted in the development of vascular fibrosis, with a significant increase in collagen fiber density and decrease in smooth muscle and elastic fiber density. Moreover, there was development of intimal hyperplasia, with fragmentation of medial elastic lamellae in the common carotid artery of the castrated rats. Orchidectomy induces adverse changes in structure of the common carotid artery of the male rat. These changes may impair vascular function, therefore constituting a possible structural basis for the higher incidences of cardiovascular diseases observed in hypogonadism.
Androgens ; Anesthesia, Local ; Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Carotid Artery, Common* ; Collagen ; Elastic Tissue ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Hypogonadism* ; Incidence ; Male* ; Muscle, Smooth ; Orchiectomy ; Paraffin Embedding ; Rats*

Aromatase inhibitors are increasingly being used as adjuvant therapy for hormone-responsive cancers. These drugs may reduce the endogenous estrogen production in the cerebellum. Prolonged use has been associated with symptoms such as ataxia, poorer balance performance and diminished verbal memory, suggesting impaired cerebellar function. Thus, this study sought to outline the structural basis for the cerebellar deficits observed. Twenty-seven male rats (3 baseline, 15 experimental, 9 control) aged three months were recruited with the intervention group receiving 0.5 mg/kg of letrozole daily for 50 days by oral gavage while the control group received normal saline. Their cerebella were harvested for histological processing on days 20, 35, and 50. Photomicrographs were taken and analysed using Fiji ImageJ software. The dendritic spine densities and Purkinje linear densities were coded and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.0. A P-value of ≤0.05 was considered significant. A temporal decline in the Purkinje linear density as well as pyknosis and cytoplasmic eosinophilia was noted in the intervention group (P=0.165). Further, the dendritic spine density of the Purkinje neurons in the intervention group was markedly reduced (P=0.01). The reduction in the linear cell density and the dendritic spine density of the Purkinje cells following letrozole administration may provide an anatomical basis for the functional cerebellar deficits seen in chronic aromatase inhibitor use.

Aromatase inhibitors are increasingly being used as adjuvant therapy for hormone-responsive cancers. These drugs may reduce the endogenous estrogen production in the cerebellum. Prolonged use has been associated with symptoms such as ataxia, poorer balance performance and diminished verbal memory, suggesting impaired cerebellar function. Thus, this study sought to outline the structural basis for the cerebellar deficits observed. Twenty-seven male rats (3 baseline, 15 experimental, 9 control) aged three months were recruited with the intervention group receiving 0.5 mg/kg of letrozole daily for 50 days by oral gavage while the control group received normal saline. Their cerebella were harvested for histological processing on days 20, 35, and 50. Photomicrographs were taken and analysed using Fiji ImageJ software. The dendritic spine densities and Purkinje linear densities were coded and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.0. A P-value of ≤0.05 was considered significant. A temporal decline in the Purkinje linear density as well as pyknosis and cytoplasmic eosinophilia was noted in the intervention group (P=0.165). Further, the dendritic spine density of the Purkinje neurons in the intervention group was markedly reduced (P=0.01). The reduction in the linear cell density and the dendritic spine density of the Purkinje cells following letrozole administration may provide an anatomical basis for the functional cerebellar deficits seen in chronic aromatase inhibitor use.

Aromatase inhibitors are increasingly being used as adjuvant therapy for hormone-responsive cancers. These drugs may reduce the endogenous estrogen production in the cerebellum. Prolonged use has been associated with symptoms such as ataxia, poorer balance performance and diminished verbal memory, suggesting impaired cerebellar function. Thus, this study sought to outline the structural basis for the cerebellar deficits observed. Twenty-seven male rats (3 baseline, 15 experimental, 9 control) aged three months were recruited with the intervention group receiving 0.5 mg/kg of letrozole daily for 50 days by oral gavage while the control group received normal saline. Their cerebella were harvested for histological processing on days 20, 35, and 50. Photomicrographs were taken and analysed using Fiji ImageJ software. The dendritic spine densities and Purkinje linear densities were coded and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.0. A P-value of ≤0.05 was considered significant. A temporal decline in the Purkinje linear density as well as pyknosis and cytoplasmic eosinophilia was noted in the intervention group (P=0.165). Further, the dendritic spine density of the Purkinje neurons in the intervention group was markedly reduced (P=0.01). The reduction in the linear cell density and the dendritic spine density of the Purkinje cells following letrozole administration may provide an anatomical basis for the functional cerebellar deficits seen in chronic aromatase inhibitor use.

Aromatase inhibitors are increasingly being used as adjuvant therapy for hormone-responsive cancers. These drugs may reduce the endogenous estrogen production in the cerebellum. Prolonged use has been associated with symptoms such as ataxia, poorer balance performance and diminished verbal memory, suggesting impaired cerebellar function. Thus, this study sought to outline the structural basis for the cerebellar deficits observed. Twenty-seven male rats (3 baseline, 15 experimental, 9 control) aged three months were recruited with the intervention group receiving 0.5 mg/kg of letrozole daily for 50 days by oral gavage while the control group received normal saline. Their cerebella were harvested for histological processing on days 20, 35, and 50. Photomicrographs were taken and analysed using Fiji ImageJ software. The dendritic spine densities and Purkinje linear densities were coded and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.0. A P-value of ≤0.05 was considered significant. A temporal decline in the Purkinje linear density as well as pyknosis and cytoplasmic eosinophilia was noted in the intervention group (P=0.165). Further, the dendritic spine density of the Purkinje neurons in the intervention group was markedly reduced (P=0.01). The reduction in the linear cell density and the dendritic spine density of the Purkinje cells following letrozole administration may provide an anatomical basis for the functional cerebellar deficits seen in chronic aromatase inhibitor use.

Aromatase inhibitors are increasingly being used as adjuvant therapy for hormone-responsive cancers. These drugs may reduce the endogenous estrogen production in the cerebellum. Prolonged use has been associated with symptoms such as ataxia, poorer balance performance and diminished verbal memory, suggesting impaired cerebellar function. Thus, this study sought to outline the structural basis for the cerebellar deficits observed. Twenty-seven male rats (3 baseline, 15 experimental, 9 control) aged three months were recruited with the intervention group receiving 0.5 mg/kg of letrozole daily for 50 days by oral gavage while the control group received normal saline. Their cerebella were harvested for histological processing on days 20, 35, and 50. Photomicrographs were taken and analysed using Fiji ImageJ software. The dendritic spine densities and Purkinje linear densities were coded and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.0. A P-value of ≤0.05 was considered significant. A temporal decline in the Purkinje linear density as well as pyknosis and cytoplasmic eosinophilia was noted in the intervention group (P=0.165). Further, the dendritic spine density of the Purkinje neurons in the intervention group was markedly reduced (P=0.01). The reduction in the linear cell density and the dendritic spine density of the Purkinje cells following letrozole administration may provide an anatomical basis for the functional cerebellar deficits seen in chronic aromatase inhibitor use.