Estrous Cycle and Ovarian Changes in a Rat Mammary Carcinogenesis Model after Irradiation, Tamoxifen Chemoprevention, and Aging

Baktiar O. Karim, Jennifer A. Landolfi, Archie Christian, Rodolfo Ricart-Arbona, Weiping Qiu, Melissa McAlonis, Paul O. Eyabi, Khalid A. Khan, John F. Dicello, Jill F. Mann, David L. Huso

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: Variation in the effects of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) on the estrous cycle and reproductive organs during aging could play an important role in the observed heterogeneity of tamoxifen chemoprevention efficacy against breast cancer. Methods: Of the 1,022 female Sprague Dawley rats enrolled in a long-term tamoxifen chemoprevention study, 87 were randomly chosen from four groups (irradiated, irradiated and tamoxifen treated, tamoxifen treated, and control). Vaginal smears were evaluated for determination of cycle stage, and vaginal pathologic changes. Correlation with the histologic features of reproductive tissues in 43 animals was made. Results: More tamoxifen-treated (21.9%; 7/32) rats had irregular cycling than did control (9%; 3/23) rats. Ovarian granulosa cell hyperplasia was present in 50% (3/6) of tamoxifen-treated rats, and 20% (2/10) of control rats. Endometrial-type cells (ETCs) were present only in tamoxifen-treated (tamoxifen alone 6.25% [2/32]) and tamoxifen] radiation-treated (28.6% [4114]) rats. Conclusion: The modified Papanicolaou stain used here provided excellent morphologic detail for evaluating the estrous cycle in rodents. Tamoxifen altered vaginal cytologic and ovarian histologic features during aging. Results indicated that tamoxifen had direct and indirect effects on the reproductive tract, causing disturbance of the estrous cycle, shedding of ETCs, and promoting granulosa cell hyperplasia. Understanding of the heterogeneous response to tamoxifen chemoprevention during aging in rodents may provide important insights into the basis for tamoxifen chemoprevention failures in humans.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)532-538
Number of pages7
JournalComparative Medicine
Volume53
Issue number5
StatePublished - Oct 2003
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Veterinary

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