The Effects of ICI 182,780, an anti-estrogen on the male reproductive system
This research will examine the effects of an anti-estrogen, (ICI 182,780,) on the male reproductive tract. The role of an anti-estrogen is to disrupt the function of estrogen, by blocking the receptor that it binds. The long-term goal is to use this idea to make the male infertile and therefore potentially develop a new form of male contraception. The compound ICI 182,780 should be stored at 2-8 centigrade, but the compound was received at a temperature of -12 centigrade by the Veterinary Biosciences Department at University of Illinois. This temperature froze the compound, which may have altered its effectiveness. Therefore, this lab will test the compound through measurements and statistics to prove the compound's viability. I will be injecting three mice with ICI (treated) and three mice with castor oil (control) for a specific time interval. At the end of that interval we will perfuse the mice and fix, stain, and analyze cross sections of the testis. From previous studies it was shown that the efferent ductules dilate and the epithelium contracts, forming flattened cells that do not function properly after treatment with ICI 182,780. If there was no damage to the compound due to freezing, it will be used in a more advanced research study, which will hopefully lead to the development of a male contraceptive.
School:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Department:
Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Research Advisor:
Rex A. Hess & Kay Carnes
Department of Research Advisor:
Veterinary Biosciences
Year of Publication:
2002