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Abstract
The purpose. To reveal morphological correlates of the hyperandrogenic condition of young mature male rats whose mothers were exposed to the threshold dose of dibuthylphtalate during the last week of pregnancy, as well as to investigate the morpho-functional state of the reproductive organs of these animals over aging. Material and methods. Dibuthylphtalate was administered to Wistar female rats intagastrically at a daily dose of 100 mg/kg b.w. during the 15th‑21st days of pregnancy. In 6- and 18-month-old male offsprings, the weight and histology of the reproductive organs, the number of spermatozoa in the epididymis and the blood plasma testosterone level were studied. Results. In 6-month-old animals of the experimental group, the weights of the reproductive organs and the histology of the prostate and spermatogenic layer of testes did not differ from the control. Morphological features of Leydig cells in the testes of those animals demonstrated functional activation that correlated with a two-fold increase of testosterone level. Instead, in 18-month-old experimental animals, the weights of the accessory sex glands, epididymis and the number of spermatozoa significantly reduced compared with the control of corresponding age. More than two-fold decrease in testosterone level was very close to statistical significance. Morphology of the ventral prostate and testes showed acceleration of age-related involutional changes in these organs. The number of Leydig cell microadenomas in the interstitial space of the testes increased twice. Conclusion. Hyperandrogenic status in young male rats have been exposed to prenatal low dose DBP during the critical period of sexual brain differentiation is characterized by morphological features of functional activation of Leydig cells. In aging experimental rats, premature involution of the hormonal and generative functions of the gonads occurs.
References
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