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Ageing in men is accompanied by an increased occurrence of osteoporosis, but traditional hormonal replacement therapy elevates the risk of developing endocrine cancer. Vitex agnus-castus L. (Vac) essential oil is commonly used as an alternative therapy for ageing symptoms in both men and women. It is known that calcitonin (CT), thyroid C cell hormone, inhibits bone resorption. The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the influence of Vac essential oil administration on the immunohistomorphometric features of thyroid C cells and bone metabolism in 16-month-old male Wistar rats. The first group of animals (n=8) was treated subcutaneously (s.c.) with 60 mg/kg of Vac essential oil once a day for 3 weeks. Control animals (n=8) received sterile olive oil s.c. by the same schedule. After Vac treatment significant increases (p<0.05) were found in the volume of C cells (by 10%) and serum CT level (by 27%) compared with the controls. Serum osteocalcin (OC) and calcium (Ca2+) levels were 31% and 8% lower (p<0.05) respectively, in comparison with the control group. These are the first experimental results suggesting that Vac essential oil stimulates thyroid C cells activity and decreases bone turnover in middle-aged male rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of estradiol dipropionate (EDP) or calcium glucoheptonate (Ca) on the morphology and stereology of the PRL cells in 14-month-oldWistar female rats were studied. The animals were treated daily with EDP in the dose of 0.625 mg/kg b.w. or calcium glucoheptonate (Ca; 11.4 mg/kg b.w.) for two weeks. The controls were injected with vehicle alone by the same schedule. Mammotrophs (PRL cells) were immunocytochemically localized by the PAP method. Blood PRL concentration was determined by Delfia procedure. In animals treated with EDP the volume of both, PRL cells and their nuclei, as well as the volume densities were significantly (p<0.05) increased by 17%, 9% and 38%, respectively, in comparison with the controls. In animals treated with Ca all morphometric parameters were insignificantly (p>0.05) decreased compared to control rats. Serum concentration of PRL was significantly increased (p<0.05) by 17% after estradiol treatment, but in Ca-treated females this parameter was insignificantly (p>0.05) changed by 2% compared to controls. Based on these results, it can be concluded that EDP expresses a strong stimulatory effect on the morphology and function of pituitary PRL cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]