title: Structural and functional abnormalities in the sex organs of male offspring of mothers treated with diethylstilbestrol (DES).
abstract: The in utero effects of DES (Diethylstilbestrol) on the human male genital tract are reported in this follow-up study of male offspring of DES-treated mothers. Both anatomical and functional abnormalities were significantly greater in the DES-exposed males as compared to control males whose mothers were all participants in a prospective, randomized double blind study of the effects of DES on pregnancy at the Chicago Lying-in Hospital during the early 1950s. Epididymal cysts, hypotrophic testes and capsular induration of the testes were among the more common genital lesions found in 27% of 134 DES-exposed males as compared to a 7% incidence in 119 control males. Spermatozoa analyses revealed severely pathologic changes (Eliasson score greater than 10) in 29% of 28 DES-exposed males and 0% of 18 control males (with or without genital i.e., physical abnormalities). Abnormal findings on physical examination combined with sperm abnormalities (Eliasson score greater than or equal to 5) were found in 29% of DES-exposed males versus 0% of 18 control males. Cytologic examinations did not reveal malignant cells from the following materials: urines before and after prostatic massage or ejaculation, prostatic fluids and aspirates from epididymal cysts.
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D000293:Adolescent; D002452:Cell Count; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003560:Cysts / Q000139:chemically induced; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000002:abnormalities; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology; D013094:Spermatozoa; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D013737:Testis / Q000002:abnormalities
chemical_list: D004054:Diethylstilbestrol