Effects of prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol with different dosages on epidermal growth factor and growth factor receptor in offspring mice testis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES)with different dosages on epidermal growth factor (EGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in offspring mice testis, and the possible mechanism. Methods DES model was induced in mice by DES.Female Kungmiag mice were randomly divided into normal group, control group and experimental groups 1-4 ( DES 10, 25, 50, 100 μg/kg). Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression of EGF and EGFR in the testicular tissue in each group. Results EGF and EGFR were expressed mainly in sffspring mice testis Leydig cells. The cumulative absorbance ( IA ) values of EGF positive cells in experimental groups 1-4 were 75. 43 ± 1.42, 52. 22 ± 5.67, 13.75 ± 3. 14, and 6. 38 ± 3.20 respectively, which were significantly lower than in normal and control groups (433.88 ± 11.64,423.44 ±4. 70 respectively).The IA values of EGFR positive cells in experimental groups 1-4 were 198. 16 ± 34. 35, 138.00 ± 12.04,46.03 ± 6. 74, 27.22 ± 5.52 respectively, which were significantly lower than in normal and control groups (804. 74 ± 22. 52,800. 03 ± 21.96 respectively). The expression levels of EGF and EGFR could be detected in each subgroup and statistically significant differences existed in the expression of EGF and EGFR between any two groups ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). With the increase of DES dosage, the expression of EGF and EGFR was decreased, with the difference being significant amond the groups ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). Conclusion DES can influence the expression of EGF and EGFR in mice testis, which might be one of possible mechanisms effecting the development of testis. Key words: Diethylstilbestrol; Epidermal growth factor; Testis