An ultrastructural study on the effects of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on mice testes: cell death and sloughing of spermatogenic cells.
Mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) is a well-characterized testicular toxicant. In this study, morphological alterations of mice testes caused by repeated administrations of MEHP were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. Prepubertal male mice were given a range of MEHP doses (600-900 mg/kg/day) for 3 consecutive days in corn oil by oral gavage. Control animals were given only corn oil. Thereafter, the testes were excised, fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for light microscopy and/or 5% glutaraldehyde for transmission electron microscopy. Then, they were embedded, and sectioned. TUNEL analysis was done to quantify the occurrence of apoptosis in the testis. Cellular damages were also observed. Results showed that administration of 700 mg/kg of MEHP caused a significant increase in TUNEL-positive cells. At the same time, mice treated with higher doses of MEHP showed presence of degenerating (apoptotic and necrotic) spermatogenic cells. Appearance of small vacuoles in the Sertoli cell cytoplasm and displacement of spermatogenic cells were also observed. Sloughed and shed spermatogenic cells found in the tubular lumen were identified to be necrotic and apoptotic in appearance, respectively.
Tay
Tat Wei
TW
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Andriana
Bibin Bintang
BB
Ishii
Maki
M
Choi
Ehn Kyoung
EK
Zhu
Xiao Bo
XB
Alam
Mohammad Shah
MS
Tsunekawa
Naoki
N
Kanai
Yoshiakira
Y
Kurohmaru
Masamichi
M
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate; C016599:mono-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate