Immunohistochemical study on localized oestrogen receptors following subacute oral administration of 3-methylmorphine (codeine) in ovaries of albino Wistar rats

Abstract

The immunohistochemistry of localized oestrogen receptors following subacute oral administration of dihydrocodeine in ovaries of albino Wistar rats was studied. The specific objectives were; to determine the distribution of oestrogen receptors in the ovaries using immunohistochemical expression method and to evaluate oestrogen staining intensity using Image J statistical software. The twenty 20 rats were divided into 4 groups of five rat each. The control (group A) rats received distilled water per body weight while group B-D received 30, 60 and 90 mg/kg dihydrocodeine orally for 28 days. Animals were anesthetized using ketamine injection and abdominopelvic incision was made. The ovaries were harvested and processed using histochemistry. Photomicrographs were obtained using light microscope and arm scope. Oestrogen staining intensity was analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Post Hoc test using Image J statistical software. The results obtained show that the ovarian follicles had high staining intensity with monoclonal oestrogen receptor antibodies in group I, while group II showed moderate-high staining intensity. Group III showed low intensity of staining of oestrogen in the ovaries of the rats, while group IV showed low staining intensity of oestrogen in the ovarian follicle of albino rats. Oestrogen receptor staining intensity decreased in the ovaries of the treatment groups, which was significant at p<0.05. This study concludes that Dihydrocodeine caused significant decrease (p <0.013) in localized estrogen receptor in the ovaries of albino rats.