Ovarian reproductive function after exposure to diethylstilbestrol in neonatal life.
Inbred and random-bred NMRI mice were treated with diethylstilbestrol (DES, 5 micrograms per day) or vehicle (olive oil) on Days 1-5 after birth. At the age of 8 wk, females were treated with saline or eCG and hCG to induce ovulation. Ova never occurred in the ampulla of the uterine tube of saline-treated, DES-treated females when these mice were not mated. After gonadotropin treatment, ova were found in the ampulla of all olive oil-treated females and in approximately 80% of DES-treated females. The number of ovulated ova was similar in both groups. Twenty percent of gonadotropin-treated, DES-treated females had ova in the ampulla and a vaginal plug after being caged with males but none became pregnant. Ovaries from inbred control or DES-treated females were grafted to the ovarian bursa of control or DES-treated ovariectomized hosts. DES-treated hosts, carrying control or DES-exposed ovaries, never became pregnant. Control females, with control ovaries or DES-exposed ovaries, became pregnant; pregnancy rate and litter size were similar for control mice regardless of whether they were supporting DES-exposed or control ovaries. Oocytes from ovaries exposed neonatally to DES can thus give rise to apparently normal offspring. The results also indicate DES-induced nonovarian disturbances, e.g. tubal and/or endometrial function, both of which are important for fertility. In the grafting experiments, a high mortality rate was found in inbred DES-exposed females caged with males. All deaths were associated with vaginal concrements (vaginal stones) and intestinal complications.
Halling
A
A
Department of Anatomy, University of Lund, Sweden.
Forsberg
J G
JG
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007246:Infertility / Q000139:chemically induced; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol