"Introduction"
Several studies have established a definite relationship between the
salivary glands and the endocrine system. Kronman and Spinale (1965, 1967)
studied the histochemical changes in the submandibular gland after
testosterone. Removal of both submandibular glands in the male mouse
causes atrophy of Leydig cells in the testis and decreased body weight (Boyer
et al., 1986). In the submandibular gland of the mouse, a receptor for 3-
dihydrotestosterone has been found in the glandular acini and ducts (Morell et
al., 1987).. Aumuller et al. (1995) studied the localization of seminal proteins
in the salivary and lacrimal glands of the rat by immunocytochemistry but the
studies on the parotid gland itself were rare. Zegrebska and Tochman (1985)
and Jezek et al. (1996) studied the effects of orchiectomy on the ultrastructure
of the rat parotid gland , but the studies remain insufficient. On the other hand,
the flutamide is a nonsteroidal antiandrogen that inhibits androgen receptors
(Sufrin and Coffey, 1976; Kemppainen et al., 1992 and De-Leo et al., 1998).
The use of nonsteroidal antiandrogen is considered the first line therapy for
the treatment of cancer prostate (Boccon Gibod, 1993). Flutamide could be
used alone or in combination with medical or surgical castration to provide
superior care for patients with metastatic prostate cancer (Klein, 1996). Few
data were provided about the effect of antiandrogen (flutamide) on the rat
parotid gland, therefore the aim of this work is to investigate the effect of
orchiectomy versus antiandrogen (flutamide) on the rat parotid gland. In
addition, the effect of testosterone substitution on parotid gland of
orchiectomized rats is also studied. |
