The effects of bortezomib on the ovariectomy applied rat uterus: A histopathological, stereological, and immunohistochemical study

OBJECTIVE(S): In this study, potential protective effects of Bortezomib (Bort), as a proteasome inhibitor, were investigated on the uterus of ovariectomized rats by histological, morphometric and immunohistochemical methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 18 Sprague dawley strain female rats (12 weeks old, 250-300 g body weight) were used. Animals in the control group (Cont, n=6) were not exposed to any treatment. Ovariectomy was performed on the experimental groups. They (n=12) were divided into ovariectomy (Ovt, n=6) and Bortezomib (Bort, n=6) subgroups. Twelve weeks later, the rats were perfused. Then, uterine tissues were removed and examined by morphometrical, and light and electron microscopy methods. In addition, immunoreactivity of nuclear factor-kappa (NF-κB) was evaluated. RESULTS: Morphometric and histopathological evaluations showed that Bort was effective in the uterus and protects the layer structures and the cells. CONCLUSION: In the light of these findings, we suggest that for proteasome inhibitor particularly Bort is thought to be useful through proteasome inhibition and NF-κB pathway.