Expression of cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase in the fetal rat testis is reduced by maternal exposure to exogenous estrogens
Abstract
Testosterone is required for normal development of the male reproductive tract. Synthesis of testosterone occurs in the Leydig cells and is dependent upon the expression of several enzymes, including cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase/C17-20-lyase (P450c17), which is highly regulated within the testis. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether maternal exposure to estrogenic chemicals was able to affect Leydig cell function in the developing male fetus at the time of masculinization. Pregnant rats were injected sc with diethylstilbestrol (DES; 100 or 500 micrograms/kg), 4-octylphenol (OP; 100 or 600 mg/kg), or vehicle (oil, control) on days 11.5 and 15.5 postcoitum. Doses were chosen to reflect the reported estrogenic potency of the chemicals in vitro. On day 17.5, fetal testes were fixed before performing in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry, used for extraction of RNA, or homogenized in phosphate buffer for determination of 17alpha-hydroxylase enzyme activity. There was no difference between fetuses from control and treated mothers in either the overall histology of the testes or the apparent number of Leydig cells, as determined by immunocytochemistry with an antibody directed against 3beta-hydroxyste...Continue Reading
Citations
Effect of xenoestrogen exposure on the expression of cytochrome P450 isoforms in rainbow trout liver
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