title: Maternal oestrogen/xenoestrogen exposure alters expression of steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1/Ad4BP) in the fetal rat testis.
abstract: Expression of steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1/Ad4BP) is essential for gonadal differentiation. We have assessed whether expression of SF-1 in the gonads of rat fetuses was altered following maternal treatment with diethylstilbestrol (DES, a synthetic oestrogen) or 4-octylphenol (OP, a xenoestrogen). Pregnant rats were injected subcutaneously with DES (500 microg/kg), OP (600 mg/kg) or vehicle (oil, control) on days 11.5 and 15.5 post coitum (p.c.) and fetal rat testes were recovered on day 17.5 p.c. The level of expression of SF-1 was determined by RNase protection assay and immunocytochemistry. In both DES- and OP-exposed fetuses immunoexpression of SF-1 was reduced in Sertoli and interstitial cells when compared with controls. In parallel, a significant decrease occurred in the total amount of SF-1 mRNA (P < 0.05) in fetal testes but not in fetal ovaries. These results suggest that: (a) Sertoli cell-derived oestradiol may be important in the physiological regulation of SF-1 in the fetal testis; and (b) one mechanism by which inappropriate exposure to oestrogens might alter the genetic cascade that ensures normal development of the testis is via altered expression of SF-1.
authors.affiliation: MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Majdic
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Sharpe
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Saunders
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D008297:Male; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D010636:Phenols; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C515060:steroidogenic factor 1, rat; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; C080417:4-octylphenol