title: Manipulation of pre and postnatal androgen environments and anogenital distance in rats.
abstract: We examined the anogenital distance (AGD) plasticity in rats through the manipulation of the androgen environment in utero and during puberty. Dams were treated from gestation days 13-20 with vehicle, flutamide (20mg/kg/day), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP, 750mg/kg/day), or testosterone (1.0mg/kg/day). After weaning, male pups were randomly assigned to one of four postnatal groups, which received the same treatments given prenatally. Sixteen treatment groups were established based on the combination of pre- and postnatal exposures. The postnatal treatments were conducted from postnatal days 23-53. In utero flutamide and DEHP exposure significantly shortened male AGD, although this effect was more pronounced in flutamide-exposed rats. Postnatal flutamide, DEHP, and testosterone induced slight but significant reductions in male AGD. Our study indicates that AGD is a stable anatomical landmark that reflects the androgen action in utero, although it can also be slightly responsive to changes in the androgen environment following pubertal exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Division of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diogo H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Division of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Katlyn B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Division of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amanda C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Venturelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Division of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Division of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daria L B
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Division of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosana N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Shanna H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Swan
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gennings
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Division of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: anderson.andrade@ufpr.br.
authors.forename: Anderson J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Martino-Andrade
mesh_terms: D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000633:toxicity*; D000728:Androgens / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000633:toxicity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005485:Flutamide / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010413:Penis / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D013087:Spermatids / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone; D005485:Flutamide; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate
keywords: Androgens; Anogenital Distance; Anogenital distance (AGD); Anti-androgens; DEHP; Endocrine Disruptors; Flutamide; Rats; Testosterone