The effects of ovariectomy on ghrelin expression in the rat uterus.

BACKGROUND Ghrelin is a hormone which has effects on the secretion of growth hormone, the gastrointestinal system, the cardiovascular system, cell proliferation and the reproductive system. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to investigate structural changes in the uterine tissue and to assess ghrelin immunoreactivity in the endometrium as a result of bilateral ovariectomization of rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study, 28 adult female albino Wistar rats were used. The rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group I was the control group; Group II was the placebo group; Group III was ovariectomized; and Group IV was ovariectomized with 2mg/kg estrogen administered per day. Age-matched diestrous intact rats were used as controls. At the end of the experiment, the rats were decapitated 1, 3, 5, 7, and 15 days after ovariectomy under ketamine anesthesia and their uterine tissue was removed. RESULTS In the ovariectomized rats, reductions in the sizes of both the uterine epithelium and the endometrial glands were observed, as well as a loss of connective tissue. Ghrelin-positive cells in the endometrial surface and the gland epithelium were visualized by immunohistochemistry. After ovariectomization, ghrelin expression was found to be decreased in a time dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS Bilateral ovariectomization leads to histological changes in the uterine tissue. Ovariectomization was observed to decrease endometrium ghrelin immunoreactivity.