Adrenal cortex regeneration in ethane dimethanesulfonate administered rat model

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the parallel morphological and biochemical regeneration of Leydig cells in the adrenal gland after ethane dimethanesulfonate (EDS) administration.

Materials and methods: We divided 72 male rats into two groups: the control and EDS groups. Rats in the EDS group received a single dose of EDS (75 mg/kg) intraperitoneally and were sacrificed on days 7, 21, 35, and 63 respectively. Adrenal gland tissue samples obtained from the sacrificed rats were analyzed under light microscopic, immunohistochemical, biochemical, and quantitative methods.

Results: In contrast to Caspase-3 expression, 3βHSD and Ki67 expression and thickness of the zona reticularis (ZR) layer and testosterone levels significantly decreased on the 7^th, 21^st, and 35^th days after single-dose EDS. However, 3βHSD and Ki67 expression, testosterone levels, and the ratio of ZR thickness of the EDS group were seen similar to the control group on the 63^rd day following EDS administration, but experienced decreasing Caspase-3 expression. After EDS administration, we observed a significant regeneration in the ZR layer of the adrenal gland on the 63^rd day.

Conclusion: EDS-injected animal models can be used to investigate the development of Leydig cells and assess the turnover of the adrenal cortex (adrenal insufficiency) per time.