Regression of Pathological Changes Induced by Long-Term Administration of Contraceptive Steroids to Rodents
June 1985
in “
Toxicologic Pathology
”
Studysummary In this study, prolonged high-dose steroid treatment in rats caused several pathological changes, some of which regressed, particularly improvements in mammary gland tumors and pituitary-related symptoms, after stopping treatment.
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The study investigated the effects of long-term administration of contraceptive steroids, specifically quingestanol acetate and quinestrol, on rodents over 50 weeks, followed by a 30-week observation period. The treatment led to several adverse effects, including hair loss, ataxia due to pituitary enlargement, mammary chain masses with adenocarcinoma, lens opacities, ovarian atrophy, and uterine atrophic changes. After cessation of treatment, some conditions, such as mammary gland tumors and ataxia, showed regression, while hair loss and lens opacities persisted. The study highlighted the potential for regression of certain steroid-induced pathologic changes, although tegumentary and ocular changes remained unaffected.
