title: An ultrastructural study on the effects of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on mice testes: cell death and sloughing of spermatogenic cells.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Tat Wei
authors: TW
authors: Tay
authors: Bibin Bintang
authors: BB
authors: Andriana
authors: Maki
authors: M
authors: Ishii
authors: Ehn Kyoung
authors: EK
authors: Choi
authors: Xiao Bo
authors: XB
authors: Zhu
authors: Mohammad Shah
authors: MS
authors: Alam
authors: Naoki
authors: N
authors: Tsunekawa
authors: Yoshiakira
authors: Y
authors: Kanai
authors: Masamichi
authors: M
authors: Kurohmaru
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate; C016599:mono-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate