title: [Establishing a mouse model of Sertoli-cell-only syndrome by administration of busulfan].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish a stable and reliable model of Sertoli-cell-only syndrome in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  We randomly divided 60 NIH mice into two groups of equal number to receive intraperitoneal injection of busulfan (30 mg/kg) and 30 or 60 minutes of testis cooling. At 2, 4 and 8 weeks after treatment, we recorded the survival rate of the mice, weight of the testis and Johnsen scores, and conducted quantitative analysis on the degrees of spermatogenetic failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in the baseline body weight and survival rate between the intervention and control groups (P > 0.05). At 4 and 8 weeks, the testis weight and Johnsen score were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control ([0.04 +/- 0.01] g and [0.05 +/- 0.01] g vs [0.09 +/- 0.03] g and [0.11 +/- 0.02] g, P < 0.05; 3.86 +/- 0.50 and 2.70 +/- 0.67 vs 9.60 +/- 0.25 and 9.76 +/- 0.43, P < 0.01). At 2, 4 and 8 weeks, the testis weights were (0.07 +/- 0.02) g, (0.06 +/- 0.01) g and (0.09 +/- 0.01) g, respectively, in the 30-min cooling group and (0.05 +/- 0.01) g, (0.04 +/- 0.02) g and (0.04 +/- 0.02) g in the 60-min cooling group, significantly lower than in the control side at the same time points ([0.11 +/- 0.01] g, [0.11 +/- 0.01] g and [0.12 +/- 0.00] g) (P < 0.05), and the Johnsen scores were 4.70 +/- 0.67, 2.70 +/- 0.84 and 6.10 +/- 1.14 in the 30-min and 1.67 +/- 0.58, 1.20 +/- 0.45 and 1.00 +/- 0.00 in the 60-min cooling group, remarkably lower than in the control side (9.60 +/- 3.23, 9.60 +/- 0.55 and 9.70 +/- 0.45) (P < 0.01). Histopathological examination of the cooled testes revealed considerable atrophy of seminal tubules, necrosis of seminiferous epithelia and peritubular fibrosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of busulfan has no obvious influence on the survival of mice, and is a reliable method for constructing a mouse model of Sertoli-cell-only syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China. lijingping@live.com
authors.forename: Jing-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wen-Bin
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jin-Can
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Qing-feng
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xiao-Qiang
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiang-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Feng-Bin
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002066:Busulfan / Q000009:adverse effects; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009929:Organ Size; D054331:Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced; D012708:Sertoli Cells; D013737:Testis
chemical_list: D002066:Busulfan