Anat Cell Biol.  2018 Dec;51(4):284-291. 10.5115/acb.2018.51.4.284.

Histomorphological changes in the common carotid artery of the male rat in induced hypogonadism

• Cheruiyot
• Olabu B
• Kamau M
• Ongeti K
• Mandela P

• KMID: 2430196
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2018.51.4.284

Abstract

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.

Keyword

Androgens; Cardiovascular disease; Hypogonadism; Common carotid artery; Orchidectomy

MeSH Terms

Androgens
Anesthesia, Local
Animals
Cardiovascular Diseases
Carotid Artery, Common*
Collagen
Elastic Tissue
Fibrosis
Humans
Hyperplasia
Hypogonadism*
Incidence
Male*
Muscle, Smooth
Orchiectomy
Paraffin Embedding
Rats*
Androgens
Collagen

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Photomicrographs of common carotid artery (CCA). (A) A photomicrograph showing the structure of the CCA of a normogonadic rat seen at week 6. Note the numerous spindle shaped smooth muscle cell nuclei (black arrows) in the tunica media (TM). TA, tunica adventitia. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. (B) A photomicrograph showing structure of the CCA of a hypogonadic rat seen 6 weeks after castration. Note the decrease in smooth muscle cell nuclei (black arrows). H&E staining. (C) A photomicrograph of CCA of a normogonadic rat seen a normogonadic rat at week 9 of the study. Note the abundant smooth muscle cells in the TM. IMT, intima-medial thickness. Masson's trichrome staining. (D) A photomicrograph of the CCA of a hypogonadic rat seen a normogonadic rat at week 9 of the study. Note that collagen:smooth muscle ratio is higher compared to controls rats. Also not the disruption of collagen fibers in the TA due to wider spaces between the fibers. TI, tunica intima. Masson's trichrome staining. (E) A photomicrograph showing the structural organization of the CCA of a normogonadic rat at week 6 of the study. Note the continuous wavy elastic lamellae in the TM and abundant dark staining elastic fibers in the TA. Wiegerts' elastic staining. (F) A photomicrograph showing the structural organization of the CCA of a hypogonadic rat seen 6 weeks after castration. Note the decreased quantity of elastic fibers in the TA (arrowheads). Wiegerts' elastic staining. (G) A photomicrograph showing the organization of TM of CCA of a normogonadic rat at week 9 of the study. Note the abundant elastic fibers (black arrows) in the TA. Although the elastic lamellae did not take in enough stain, note that they are thick continuous wavy. Wiegerts' elastic staining. (H) A photomicrograph showing the structural organization of TM of CCA of a hypogonadic rat seen 9 weeks after castration. Note the loss elastic fibers, and the loss of continuity and concentric arrangement of elastic lamellae (black arrows). Wiegerts' elastic staining. Scale bars=200 µm (A–H).

• 

  Fig. 2 Line graph showing trends in smooth muscle cell density in control and experimental animals.

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  Fig. 3 Line graph showing trends in collagen fiber density in control and experimental animals.

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  Fig. 4 Line graph showing trends in elastic fiber density in control and experimental animals.

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