The Effects of the Antiestrogen ICI182, 780 on the Reproductive Tract of the Male Hamster.
The estrogen receptor-a (ERa) knockout mouse (aERKO) and the antiestrogen ICI 182, 780 have been used to investigate the effects of estrogen in the male in various species. However, the aERKO mouse presents developmental problems. Also, differences in response to the antiestrogen treatments and ERa immunostaining have been reported in different species. In our investigation we treated the male adult hamster with ICI 182, 780 to further study the role of estrogen in the efferent ductules. Male adult hamsters were given s. c. injections of ICI 182, 780 (200mg/kg) or castor oil (as control) once a week for 30 days. The morphology of the testis, rete testis, and efferent ductules in the control and ICI-treated hamsters were compared and analyzed. Estrogen receptor-a was localized immunohistochemically in the efferent ductules of both control and ICI-treated animals. The testis tissue and rete testis tissue of the ICI-treated hamsters did not present abnormalities. The efferent ductules of the ICI-treated hamsters did present slight dilation. The epithelium of the efferent ductules of ICI-treated hamsters showed no reduction in height. Estrogen receptor-a was strongly expressed in the efferent ductules of the control animals but weakly expressed in the ICI-treated animals. This study provides evidence showing that estrogen pays a role in the reproductive system of the hamster and allowed us to hypothesize that luminal dilation of efferent ductules is prevented by ICI induced elevated testosterone levels.
School:
St. Mary's University at San Antonio
Department:
Biology
Research Advisor:
Rex A. Hess
Department of Research Advisor:
Veterinary Biosciences
Year of Publication:
2003