Histologic and histochemical study, European Journal of Cancer, 1966
Abstract
The present study is dealing with an investigation on gross, histologic and histochemical changes in testes and adrenal cortex of BALB/c mice after subcutaneous implantation of a diethylstilbestrol pellet. The animals were serially killed 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days after the implantation. They showed an initial marked loss of body weight, an increased testicular weight starting from the 90th day and a constant adrenal weight increase from the beginning of the experiment. Leydig cell hyperplasia was observed in the treated groups starting from the 60th day, and Leydig cell tumours from the 120th day. A marked regression of the spermatogenic elements was observed shortly after implantation; subsequently a partial revival of the seminal activity with final regression of spermiogenesis was found. The seminal vesicles-coagulating gland complex showed a persistent squamous metaplasia of the coagulation epithelium and evidence of initial atrophy of the seminal vesicles epithelium showing a functional revival in the later stages of the experiment.
The histochemical study carried out on testes and adrenal cortex gave useful information on some enzyme activities connected with steroidogenesis, i.e. 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and NADPH diaphorase. The demonstration of the reported enzymes was obtained within normal, hyperplastic and tumoural Leydig tissues. A lack of enzyme activities was found in the inner zones of the adrenal cortex as well as in some Leydig cells where ceroid deposition was frequently found.
References
- Testicular Leydig cell tumourigenesis by diethylstilbestrol in the BALB/c mouse: Histologic and histochemical study, Histologic and histochemical study, European Journal of Cancer, doi.org/10.1016/0014-2964(66)90056-9, 1966.
- Featured image credit bbc news health.
DES DIETHYLSTILBESTROL RESOURCES
- Source DES and testicular cancer studies.
- Diethylstilbestrol DES studies by topics.