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Endocrine Abstracts (2017) 49 EP779 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.49.EP779

1Institute for Biological Research “Sinisa Stankovic”, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; 2Department of Neuroendocrinology, Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; 3Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Macedonia.


Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin of natural origin, demonstrated some therapeutic effects when it comes to the treatment of cardiovascular issues, malignancies and the menopausal symptoms. In this study, we have investigated histological changes and corticosterone secretion of the adrenal gland after diosgenin application in a rat model of the menopause. Middle-aged, acyclic female Wistar rats were divided into control (C; n=6) and diosgenin treated (D; n=6) groups. Diosgenin (100 mg/kg b.w./day) was orally applied for 4 weeks, while C group received the vehicle alone. Our approach considered using the design-based stereology, histochemistry and the hormonal assay. The adrenal cortex volume decreased in D females by 15% (P<0.05) while the volume of adrenal medulla increased (P<0.05) by 64%, compared to the same parameters in C group. Volume density of zona glomerulosa (expressed per absolute adrenal gland volume) in D rats increased (P<0.05) by 22% in comparison with C animals. Diosgenin treatment decreased (P<0.05) volume density of zona fasciculata (expressed per volume of adrenal cortex) by 15% and caused vasodilatation within this zone, when compared to C females. Circulating corticosterone was also decreased by 16% compared to the C group. Absolute volume of zona reticularis in D group decreased (P<0.05) by 38% in comparison with the same parameter in C rats. Also, after diosgenin application, volume density of zona reticularis (expressed per absolute adrenal gland volume) and zona reticularis cell volume were decreased by 40% and 20% (P<0.05) respectively, compared to C animals. Our results, reflecting a decrease of the numerous adrenocortical stereological parameters, indicate that diosgenin took over the role of corticosteroid precursors and got incorporated into the steroidogenesis.

Volume 49

19th European Congress of Endocrinology

Lisbon, Portugal
20 May 2017 - 23 May 2017

European Society of Endocrinology 

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