Morphological study of estrogen and progesterone expression in the myometrium of mice during pregnancy and the late postpartum period in acute toxic hepatosis and its correction with immobilized hyaluronidase

I n t r o d u c t i o n. The balance of estrogens and progesterone ensures the harmonious development of the uterus during pregnancy: progesterone provides an increase in the number of myocytes, and estrogens – their volume. Hormonal balance achieved through the catabolism of estrogens in the liver plays an important role in postpartum uterine involution. In this regard, liver diseases during pregnancy can disturb the elimination of estrogens, which leads to hyperestrogenism and problems with maintenance of pregnancy, and can also cause impaired uterine postpartum involution.

A i m. The study of the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the myometrium of C57Bl/6 mice during pregnancy and the late postpartum period in acute CCl₄-induced hepatosis and in its correction with immobilized hyaluronidase (IH).

M a t e r i a l s a n d m e t h o d s. The experiment was performed on 100 female C57Bl/6 mice. Acute hepatosis was induced on the 13th day of pregnancy by a single intraperitoneal injection of a 50% carbon tetrachloride solution in olive oil at a dose of 0.3 ml/kg. The mice were divided into four groups: group 1 (control) – intact pregnant mice; group 2 – mice with acute toxic hepatosis; group 3 – pregnant mice with induced acute toxic hepatosis and its correction with IH on the 14th day of pregnancy; group 4 – intact pregnant mice receiving IH on the 14th day of pregnancy. In all groups, sampling was carried out on the 18th and 21st days of pregnancy and on the 1st, 10th and 15th days after parturition. The numerical density (Nai) of positively stained nuclei of the receptors in the test area in myocytes was calculated, regardless of the staining intensity.

R e s u l t s. During pregnancy in acute CCl₄-induced hepatosis, the expression of progesterone and estrogen receptors in the myometrium does not change and corresponds to that of intact pregnant mice. In animals with acute CCl₄-induced hepatosis, in the late postpartum period (up to 15 days), an increased expression of estrogen receptors in the myometrium is noted, with relatively stable expression rates of progesterone. In the correction of acute CCl₄-induced hepatosis with IH, the expression of estrogen receptors in the postpartum period decreases and generally corresponds to similar indicators in intact pregnant mice.

C o n c l u s i o n. In acute CCl₄-induced hepatosis, the balance of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the myometrium in the postpartum period is disturbed. In the correction of acute CCl₄-induced hepatosis with IH, the levels of expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the myometrium are normalized which contributes to the completion of postpartum uterine involution.

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