title: Nuclear Morphometric Analysis of Leydig Cells of Male Pubertal Rats Exposed In Utero to Di(n-butyl) Phthalate.
abstract: We recently reported that prenatal rat exposure to di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) induced Leydig cell (LC) hyperplasia after nine weeks (wks) of age, yet the number of LCs was similar to that of the vehicle group until seven weeks. Nuclear pleomorphism of hyperplastic LCs is common and is considered to be continuous progressive degeneration. Thus, computer-assisted image cell nuclear analysis of LCs was performed on 5- and 7-wk-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats whose dams had been administered DBP (i.g.) at 100 mg/kg/day or vehicle (corn oil) on gestation day 12 to 21. The results of the 5-wk-old DBP group were similar to those of the vehicle group; LC nuclei of the 7-wk-old DBP group showed normal ploidy and similar amounts of DNA. However, the size, elongation and peripheral chromatin aggregation parameters were significantly higher, and the reticular chromatin distribution and isolated chromatin aggregation parameters were significantly lower compared with the vehicle group. The present study quantitatively demonstrated nuclear morphological alterations in rat LCs at 7 wks old (puberty) due to the prenatal DBP administration before apparent LC hyperplasia developed.
authors: Department of Toxicology, Laboratory Animal Science, and Veterinary Anatomy, Azabu University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1-17-71 Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.
authors: Shin
authors: S
authors: Wakui
authors: Department of Toxicology, Laboratory Animal Science, and Veterinary Anatomy, Azabu University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1-17-71 Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.
authors: Masaya
authors: M
authors: Motohashi
authors: Kokusan Co., Ltd., 7-8-16 Nishibori Sakura, Saitama 338-0832, Japan.
authors: Takemi
authors: T
authors: Satoh
authors: Department of Toxicology, Laboratory Animal Science, and Veterinary Anatomy, Azabu University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1-17-71 Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.
authors: Masaru
authors: M
authors: Shirai
authors: Drug Safety Testing Center, 25-1 Kuroiwa, Yoshimi Hiki, Saitama 335-0116, Japan.
authors: Tomoko
authors: T
authors: Mutou
authors: Department of Pathology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-35-8 Nishishimbashi, Minato, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan.
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Takahashi
authors: School of Pharmacy, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 12850 East Montview Blvd., Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
authors: Michael F
authors: MF
authors: Wempe
authors: J-Pharma Co., Ltd., 75-1 Turumi, Kanagawa 230-0046, Japan.
authors: Hitoshi
authors: H
authors: Endou
authors: Department of Toxicology, Laboratory Animal Science, and Veterinary Anatomy, Azabu University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1-17-71 Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.
authors: Tomoo
authors: T
authors: Inomata
authors: Department of Toxicology, Laboratory Animal Science, and Veterinary Anatomy, Azabu University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1-17-71 Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.
authors: Masao
authors: M
authors: Asari
keywords: Leydig cell; computer-assisted image cell nuclear analysis; prenatal DBP exposure; rats; testis