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Brief maternal exposure of rats to the xenobiotics dibutyl phthalate or diethylstilbestrol alters adult-type Leydig cell development in male offspring

Ivell, Richard; Heng, Kee; Nicholson, Helen; Anand-Ivell, Ravinder

Brief maternal exposure of rats to the xenobiotics dibutyl phthalate or diethylstilbestrol alters adult-type Leydig cell development in male offspring Thumbnail


Authors

Richard Ivell

Kee Heng

Helen Nicholson



Abstract

Maternal exposure to estrogenic xenobiotics or phthalates has been implicated in the distortion of early male reproductive development, referred to in humans as the testicular dysgenesis syndrome. It is not known, however, whether such early gestational and/or lactational exposure can influence the later adult-type Leydig cell phenotype. In this study, Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to dibutyl phthalate (DBP; from gestational day (GD) 14.5 to postnatal day (PND) 6) or diethylstilbestrol (DES; from GD14.5 to GD16.5) during a short gestational/lactational window, and male offspring subsequently analysed for various postnatal testicular parameters. All offspring remained in good health throughout the study. Maternal xenobiotic treatment appeared to modify specific Leydig cell gene expression in male offspring, particularly during the dynamic phase of mid-puberty, with serum INSL3 concentrations showing that these compounds led to a faster attainment of peak values, and a modest acceleration of the pubertal trajectory. Part of this effect appeared to be due to a treatment-specific impact on Leydig cell proliferation during puberty for both xenobiotics. Taken together, these results support the notion that maternal exposure to certain xenobiotics can also influence the development of the adult-type Leydig cell population, possibly through an effect on the Leydig stem cell population.

Citation

Ivell, R., Heng, K., Nicholson, H., & Anand-Ivell, R. (2013). Brief maternal exposure of rats to the xenobiotics dibutyl phthalate or diethylstilbestrol alters adult-type Leydig cell development in male offspring. Asian Journal of Andrology, 15(2), https://doi.org/10.1038/aja.2012.138

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 25, 2012
Online Publication Date Jan 14, 2013
Publication Date Mar 1, 2013
Deposit Date Mar 22, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 22, 2017
Journal Asian Journal of Andrology
Print ISSN 1008-682X
Electronic ISSN 1745-7262
Publisher Medknow Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 15
Issue 2
DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/aja.2012.138
Keywords Diethylstilbestrol (DES); INSL3; Leydig cells; dibutyl phthalate (DBP); puberty; testis
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/713198
Publisher URL http://www.asiaandro.com/Abstract.asp?doi=10.1038/aja.2012.138
Contract Date Mar 22, 2017

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