Expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in ovarian and uterine tissue during diestrus and open cervix cystic endometrial hyperplasia-pyometra in the bitch.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the expression of 3&#x3b2;-hydroxystreroid dehydrogenase (3&#x3b2;-HSD) in the uterus and ovary of healthy dogs and those with cystic endometrial hyperplasia and/or pyometra complex (CEH-pyometra). Eighteen female dogs were included in the study. Eleven bitches with open cervix CEH-pyometra were included in the CEH-pyometra group and seven diestrus bitches in the control group. For immunostaining a rabbit polyclonal, one raised against recombinant human type 2 (adrenal/gonadal) 3&#x3b2;-HSD was used. Progesterone (P4) concentrations were not statistically different between the groups. Strongly stained large interstitial cell groups in the ovarian medulla were observed particularly in CEH-pyometra group although these cells in the control group were weakly or moderately stained and existed singly or paired. The expressions of 3&#x3b2;-HSD in luminal epithelium (42.40&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;22.40% vs. 18.42&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;13.15%, P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05) and glandular epithelium (32.80&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;27.05% vs. 2.94&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;7.79%, P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.01) of endometrium were significantly higher in CEH-pyometra group than those in the control group. The expression of 3&#x3b2;-HSD in CL was higher (29.38&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;9.58% vs. 22.94&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;4.97%) in CEH-pyometra group than that of control group although the differences were not significant (P&#xa0;>&#xa0;0.05). Similarly, the significant increase in the expression of 3&#x3b2;-HSD in ovarian interstitial cells (33.86&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;29.44 vs. 1.13&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;2.97, P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05) was found in CEH-pyometra group compared to the control group. The study revealed that 3&#x3b2;-HSD expression in the endometrium of canine CEH-pyometra was significantly high.