Altered prostate growth and daily sperm production in male mice exposed prenatally to subclinical doses of 17α-ethinyl oestradiol

Author： Thayer K.A.

Publisher： Oxford University Press

ISSN： 1460-2350

Source： Human Reproduction, Vol.16, Iss.5, 2001-05, pp. : 988-996

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Abstract

Approximately 2 million women in the USA and Europe continue taking oral contraceptives each year during undetected pregnancy due primarily to non-compliance and also to individual variation in sensitivity to hormones in the contraceptives. Prenatal exposure to oral contraceptives containing 17α-ethinyl oestradiol (EE) has generally not been associated with an increased incidence of externally observable malformations at birth. The purpose of this study was to assess effects on reproductive organs in adult male mice that had been exposed during gestation day 0 through 17 (equivalent to gestation week 16 in humans) to clinically relevant (~0.5 g/kg/day) and lower doses of EE. Doses used in this study ranged from 0.002 to 2 g/kg/day. By 5 months of age, prostate weight was significantly (P < 0.05)="" higher="" than="" controls="" in="" most="" treatment="" groups="" of="" ee="" (0.02–2="" g/kg).="" prostatic="" androgen="" receptor="" populations="" were="" significantly="" elevated="" only="" in="" the="" 0.02="" g/kg="" group,="" suggesting="" different="" mechanisms="" for="" the="" increase="" in="" prostate="" weight="" at="" different="" doses.="" daily="" sperm="" production="" (dsp)="" and="" dsp="" per="" gramme="" of="" testis="" were="" reduced="" in="" all="" treatment="" groups="" during="" adolescence,="" but="" not="" later="" in="" adulthood.="" these="" findings="" are="" consistent="" with="" prior="" studies="" showing="" that="" prenatal="" exposure="" of="" mice="" to="" very="" low="" doses="" of="" a="" number="" of="" oestrogenic="" chemicals="" can="" alter="" the="" adult="" male="" reproductive="" system="" without="" causing="" gross="" external="" malformations.="">