Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Volume 45, Issue 3, 1 September 1970
Summary
Within the first 2 weeks of administration, relatively large closes of diethylstilbestrol (DES) increased the DNA content of the cryptorchid testes of BALB/c mice. This increase was associated with testicular weight gain, but DNA per unit mass also increased significantly. An increase in DNA secondary to similar treatment with DES was not seen in (C3H/Bi × A/Bi)F1 (ZAF1) mice that have a significantly lower incidence of DES-induced Leydig-cell tumors or in Holtzman rats in which estrogeninduced interstitial cell tumors have not been reported. Measurements of 3H-thymidine incorporation in the testes of BALB/c mice indicated an early (1–7 days) “spurt”in DNA synthesis that was not detectable in ZAF1 mice. Autoradiographic studies of BALB/c testes demonstrated that this augmented incorporation was primarily, if not entirely, in cells of the interstitiurn. Both quantitative and autoradiographic studies showed that 3H-thymidine incorporation then dropped to levels approaching those of untreated animals until about the time of tumor development. Incorporation then increased significantly, and this upsurge was associated with the development of pretumorous nodules of interstitial cells, many of which were actively synthesizing DNA.
Sources
- Changes in Testicular DNA Produced in BALB/c Mice by Diethylstilbestrol, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Volume 45, Issue 3, doi.org/10.1093/jnci/45.3.525, 1 September 1970.
- Featured image credit Simon Caspersen.
DES DIETHYLSTILBESTROL RESOURCES
- Source DES and hypospadias studies.
- Diethylstilbestrol DES studies by topics.