title: The duration of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium is altered by administration of 2,5-hexanedione in the adult Sprague-Dawley rat.
abstract: The duration of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium is believed to be under genetic control rather than being influenced by other factors. However, the frequencies of certain spermatogenic stages--reflecting their relative durations--can be altered under various conditions including treatment with the n-hexane metabolite, 2,5-hexanedione (HD). To investigate whether HD administration alters the duration of the spermatogenic process, adult Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to vehicle (n = 20) or 1% HD dissolved in the drinking water (n = 40) throughout a period of 29 days. On day 17, 100 mg/kg of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was given intraperitoneally; 3 hours later one testis was removed, and the remaining testis was excised 12 days later. BrdU was localized in Bouin's-fixed, Paraplast-embedded testes using immunogold-silver-staining, and sections were counterstained with periodic acid--Schiff and hematoxylin to permit identification of the spermatogenic stages. HD treatment reduced weights of body, testis, and epididymis (P < 0.05) but had no effects on serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone or testosterone. The seminiferous epithelium was vacuolized, and spermatogenesis was affected to various degrees. HD significantly reduced the frequency of stage VII tubules (P < 0.01) and increased the frequency of stage IX and stage X tubules (P < 0.05). Furthermore, HD reduced the stage-dependent progression of BrdU-labeled germ cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Institute of Reproductive Medicine, University, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rosiepen
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Chapin
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Weinbauer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D002369:Castration; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006588:Hexanones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D006588:Hexanones; D013739:Testosterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; C011269:2,5-hexanedione; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine