Poster communication in I Congreso Internacional AERA-BAS

October 22^nd, 2008

Rodriguez-Bertos A., Iglesias-Nuñez M., Sousa-Oliveira K., Oliva-Hernandez J., Helio-Toniollo G. and Perez-Gutierrez JF.

Cystic endometrial hyperplasia-pyometra (CEH-P) is a common cause of death in the middle-aged bitch. It involves thickening of the endometrium, followed by atrophy as the condition progresses. Despite its high incidence the aetiology of CEH remains largely unknown. A recent study revealed increased uterine cell proliferation following EGF treatment in mice, suggesting EGF participation in CEH (Shiraga M, et al., 2000: Zool Sci 17, 661–666). However, the localization of the EGF system has not been described in the uterus of the bitch. The aim of this study was to determine, by immunohistochemistry, the distribution of the EGF, transforming growth factor-alfa (TGFa) and their receptors (EGFr) in 10 healthy and 10 CEH uteri presenting an advanced stage, according to the severity of the lesions. Both ligands and their receptor were detected in the cytoplasm and nucleus of cells in the surface and glandular epithelium, stromal fibroblast, as well as, the smooth muscle of the myometrium. Staining was evaluated using a Image J analysis software (NIH), and the results revealed a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in EGF staining values for intensity and the stained area in the uteri presenting advanced CEH. These findings reveal that advanced CEH is accompanied by a decrease in uterine EGF expression and suggest that the EGF system is involved in bitch uterine regulation

	Servicio de Patología y Veterinaria Forense (SAP). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM).
	Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM).
	Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP).
	Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agricolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP).
	Facultad de Comercio y Administración Victoria (FCAV).