Cellular origins of testicular dysgenesis in rats exposed in utero to di(n-butyl) phthalate.
Foetal exposure of male rats to di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) induces testicular changes similar to testicular dysgenesis syndrome in humans, including the formation of focal 'dysgenetic areas' within post-natal testes, surrounded by otherwise normal tubules exhibiting complete spermatogenesis. We hypothesize that these dysgenetic areas form when Sertoli (and other) cells are 'trapped' during the abnormal formation of large Leydig cell (LC) clusters in foetal life and by post-natal day (d) 4 these groups of intermingled cells attempt to form seminiferous tubules. It is likely that the malformed tubules resulting correspond to the dysgenetic areas evident in later life. This also provides a plausible explanation for the occurrence of LCs within seminiferous cords/tubules in or bordering the dysgenetic areas. In our previous studies intratubular LCs (ITLCs) were identified by immunostaining for 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD), the definitive LC cytoplasmic marker. However, the possibility remained that the 'presumptive' ITLCs were in fact Sertoli cells that had aberrantly gained the ability to express 3beta-HSD. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to fully characterize the ITLCs induced by in utero DBP exposure in d25 rats using a number of LC- (3beta-HSD, P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme, insulin-like factor 3, oestrogen receptor alpha) and Sertoli cell- (vimentin, Wilm's tumour-1) specific markers. Our results show that ITLCs express all four LC-specific markers but do not express either of the Sertoli cell markers. It is therefore concluded that the ITLCs are bona fide LCs that are abnormally located within the seminiferous tubules of DBP-exposed rats in post-natal life.
Mahood
I Kim
IK
Medical Research Council Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, Centre for Reproductive Biology, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK. k.mahood@hrsu.mrc.ac.uk
McKinnell
Chris
C
Walker
Marion
M
Hallmark
Nina
N
Scott
Hayley
H
Fisher
Jane S
JS
Rivas
Ana
A
Hartung
Stefan
S
Ivell
Richard
R
Mason
J Ian
JI
Sharpe
Richard M
RM
D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate