Effects of in-utero exposure to zeranol or diethylstilboestrol on morphological development of the fetal testis in mice

Abstract

The morphological development of the fetal mouse testis exposed to alpha-zearalanol (zeranol) or diethylstilboestrol (DES) was evaluated as part of an examination of the effects of transplacental exposure to non-steroid oestrogens on susceptible tissues. On days 9 and 10 of gestation, pregnant NMRI mice were given subcutaneous injections of ethyl oleate alone (0.1 ml) or zeranol or DES (150 micrograms/kg body weight) in ethyl oleate. The mice were killed from days 12 to 18 of gestation and the male fetuses were examined. Microscopical examination of the gonads indicated that the onset of testicular differentiation was earlier in the oestrogen-treated fetuses than in controls. Abnormal differentiation of gonocytes and foci of hyperplasia of fetal Leydig cells were observed in the oestrogen-treated mice. Male fetuses from female mice treated with DES showed a delay in testicular descent and progressive decrease in reactivity for cytokeratin (CK) 8 in fetal Sertoli cells. These morphological findings suggest that prenatal exposure to zeranol or DES induces abnormal testicular differentiation in the mouse.