抄録
Previously we described that prenatal rat exposure to di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) induced Leydig cells (LC) hyperplasia after 9-week-old, while the number of LC was similar to that of vehicle group until 7- week-old. Nuclear pleomorphism of hyperplastic LCs is ordinary, and is considered as continuous progressive degeneration. Then the computer-assisted image cell nuclear analysis of LCs was performed for 5- and 7- week-old SD (srl) rats whose dams had been administered DBP (i.g.) at 100 mg/kg/day or vehicle (corn oil) from days 12 to 21 post-conception. The analysis results of 5- week-old DBP group were similar to those of vehicle group. While, compared to vehicle group, LCs nuclei of 7- week-old DBP group showed normal ploidy and similar amount of DNA; but the size, elongation, and peripheral chromatin aggregation parameters were significantly higher; and the chromatin reticular distribution and the isolated chromatin aggregation parameters were significantly lower. The present study quantitatively demonstrated that rats LCs nuclear morphological alteration by the prenatal DBP exposure revealed at 7- week-old puberty when apparent LCs hyperplasia was not developed.
