Long-term alterations on the male mouse genital tract associated with neonatal exposure to cyproterone acetate biochemical data

Abstract

The effects of neonatal administration of cyproterone acetate on the growth, hormone responsiveness, DNA and protein concentrations, protein profiles, protein synthetic patterns and nuclear androgen binding sites of epididymis, vas deferons and seminal vesicles were investigated in adult mice. The weight of epididymis and seminal vesicle was significantly depressed and the reductions observed were secondary to cellular hypoplasia in epididymis and to cellular hypotrophy in seminal vesicle. The 3 organs studied showed a limited response to exogenous androgens at adulthood. When assessed by the number of cells the response of the 3 organs was similar to that of controls but it was significantly reduced from 25 to 35% when measured in term of cellular concentration of proteins. The protein profiles from homogenates of whole organs and the protein synthetic patterns after [ 35S]methionine incorporation, analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, showed reproducible persistent alterations. The total number of nuclear androgen binding sites was significantly reduced in seminal vesicles.