Abstract
To evaluate the early toxic lesions induced by DEHP and 2, 5-hexanedione, ten-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were given a single oral dose of DEHP or daily doses of 2, 5-hexandione. The single DEHP dose induced disruption of the ectoplasmic specialization of Sertoli cells at 3 hours after dosing. The lesion was characterized by marked dilatation of the endoplasmic reticulum facing the tight junction and by disappearance of the actin filament bundles associated with ectoplasmic specialization. The lanthanum trace study suggested a functional disturbance of the blood-testis barrier. Daily administration of 2, 5-hexanedione induced failure of spermatocyte and spermatid migration to the apical portion of the Sertoli cells. Degeneration or death of germ cells and multinucleated giant cell formation were also recognized after the 2, 5-hexanedione administration. Some of the degenerated germ cells and the apical processes of the Sertoli cells sloughed into the lumina of the seminiferous tubules. Therefore, it is suggested that DEHP affect the ectoplasmic specialization in Sertoli cells and 2, 5-hexanedione impair the Sertoli to germ cell contact and continual movement of germ cells from the base to the lumen of the tubules.
