The effect of estrogen-replacement therapy on clitoral-cavernosal tissue in oophorectomized rats: a histo-quantitative study by image analyzer

Abstract.

Sexual dysfunction is an important problem for aging females. However, little attention has been paid to female sexual dysfunction. The clitoris is an important organ for physiological sexual function in females. There is a close relationship between the presence of sexual complaints and levels of estrogen. Using the rat as an experimental model, we evaluated the effect of estrogen-replacement therapy and its timing on clitoral-cavernosal collogen fiber content after oophorectomy. Four-month-old female Wistar rats (n=36) weighing 230–250 g were used. They were categorized into four groups: oophorectomized (Group 1: n=10); oophorectomized + delayed estrogen replacement (group 2: n=10); oophorectomized + immediate estrogen replacement (group 3: n=10); and sham operated (group 4: n=6). The estrogen replacement used was 17-β -estradiol. All rats were euthanized at the same age. The specimens were stained with Masson's trichome technique, and computerized image analysis was used to quantify the collagen-fiber content of clitoral-cavernous tissue. The clitoral collagen-fiber percentages in the different groups were as follows: group 1: 64.17±5.01%; group 2: 62.57±5.37%; group 3: 56.33±3.85%; group 4: 51.48±6.37%, respectively. Although there was a tendency in the untreated group for a higher collagen-fiber content, no statistically significant difference was found among groups (P>0.05). Although the results of this study were not statistically significant, estrogen did appear to decrease clitoral-cavernosal collagen-fiber content. These findings may be important in the pathophysiology of postmenopausal female sexual dysfunction.