Applied Microscopy

Korean Society of Microscopy (한국현미경학회)
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Effects of Short-Term Treatment with Estrogen Receptor Agonist on Morphological Changes in Reproductive Organs of Adult Male Mice

  • Choi, Hayana (Department of Biology, College of Life Science and Natural Resources, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Mo, Yun Jeong (Department of Biology, College of Life Science and Natural Resources, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Lee, Mi-Kyung (Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Life Science and Natural Resources, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Choe, Eun Sang (Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University) ;
  • Yee, Sung Tae (Department of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Cho, Hyun Wook (Department of Biology, College of Life Science and Natural Resources, Sunchon National University)
  • Received : 2016.11.02
  • Accepted : 2016.12.20
  • Published : 2016.12.30
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Abstract

Male reproductive organs are strongly affected by estrogen signaling mediated via the estrogen receptor. In this study, propyl pyrazole triol (PPT), an estrogen receptor alpha agonist, was subcutaneously injected in adult male mice every 2 days for a total duration of 8, 16, or 24 days. Histological changes in the reproductive organs, including the testes, efferent ductules, and epididymides, were observed. The weight of the reproductive organs decreased in the PPT group. In addition, the diameter of the seminiferous tubules decreased in the PPT group compared with the control group. The epithelial cell height decreased in the initial segment of the epididymis, whereas the luminal diameter increased in the efferent ductules of the PPT group. PPT induced irregular morphology of stereocilia in the luminal region of the initial segment. Therefore, PPT treatment at high concentrations had inhibitory effects in the reproductive organs of adult male mice. These findings suggest that short-term treatment with estrogen receptor agonist causes histological changes in the testes, efferent ductules, and epididymis, which are similar to those caused by estrogen receptor antagonist treatment. Therefore, the estrogen receptor may have functional roles in male reproductive organs, implying that treatment with an estrogen receptor agonist can affect male fertility.

Keywords

References

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