Reduced seminiferous tubule diameter in mice neonatally exposed to perfume | [Zmanjsan premer semenskih cevk pri miskah, izpostavljenih parfumu ob rojstvu do odstavitve]
2006
Kovacevic, K., Ljubljana Univ. (Slovenia). Veterinary Fac. | Budefeld, T. | Majdic, G.
Odors play important roles in rodent social behavior and reproduction. Pheromones, acting through vomeronasal organ, influence pubertal development, estrus cycling and implantation in female mice. Therefore, we examined whether constant exposure to strong odor (perfume) could influence postnatal development of male reproductive organs. A breeding pairs of mice (one male and one female) were constantly exposed to perfume in cages with filter tops for one week before mating, throughout pregnancy and until weaning of the pups. No difference was observed in litter size or time between pregnancies. Male pups were sacrificed at 6, 16, 19 and 50 days of life and their testes fixed in Bouin's solution. Separate group of sexually mature (60 days old) male mice was exposed to perfume for 12 days and blood collected on 4, 8 and 12 day of exposure. Immunohistochemical staining using antibodies against 3�-HSD, antimullerian hormone and proliferating cell nuclear antigen did not reveal major differences in postnatal development of testicular cells. Testosterone levels in blood collected from sexually mature mice were lower in a group exposed to perfume in comparison to control group, but difference was not statistically significant. However, seminiferous tubule diameter was reduced (p0.05) in group of male mice exposed perinataly to perfume in comparison to control group. Although the present study did not reveal a major effect of constant exposure perfume on reproductive function in mice, reduced tubule diameter could suggest moderate changes in hormone levels such as FSH, which is known to influence Sertoli cell proliferation.
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