Association of Diethylstilbestrol Exposure in Utero With Cryptorchidism, Testicular Hypoplasia and Semen Abnormalities

Abstract

Epididymal cysts and/or hypoplastic testes have been found in 31.5 per cent of 308 men exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero, compared to 7.8 per cent of 307 placebo-exposed controls. Analyses of the spermatozoa have revealed severe pathological changes (Eliasson score greater than 10) in 134 diethylstilbestrol-exposed men (18 per cent) and 87 placebo-exposed men (8 per cent). Further investigation of the 26 diethylstilbestrol-exposed men with testicular hypoplasia has revealed that 65 per cent had a history of cryptorchidism. Only 1 of the 6 placebo-exposed controls with testicular hypoplasia had a history of testicular maldescent. Although none of our Diekmann's lying-in study group has had carcinoma to date one must keep in mind the reported increased risk of testicular carcinoma in testes that are or were cryptorchid. A 25-year-old man who was not part of the study group was treated recently by us for a testicular carcinoma ( mixed anaplastic seminoma plus embryonal cell carcinoma) and he had a history of diethylstilbestrol exposure in utero and cryptorchidism.

Hypospadias and endocrine disruption: is there a connection?

“…In their larger survey (225 cases and 111 controls), a risk ratio of 7.2 for urination problems was discovered, suggesting a urethral problem (47). Gill et al (48), in an extensive follow-up of DES offspring, report no finding of hypospadias.…”

Ontogeny of oestrogen receptor alpha in gonads and sex ducts of fetal and newborn mice

“…Genital tract alterations in adulthood after prenatal exposure to diethylstilboestrol (DES) in both humans (Bibbo et al, 1977;Gill et al, 1979;Wilcox et al, 1995) and mice (McLachlan et al, 1975(McLachlan et al, , 1980) could well be due to an altered regulation of sex duct differentiation. Likewise, in male mice, differentiation and development of the epithelium of the testicular cords and the germ cells may be influenced indirectly through the surrounding peritubular cells.…”

Expressing urine from a gel disposable diaper for biomonitoring using phthalates as an example

“…In utero exposure of men to DES, a synthetic non-steroid estrogen, has been linked to increased incidence of meatal stenosis, epididymal cysts, testicular hypoplasia, cryptorchidism, microphallus, and sperm abnormalities (Henderson et al, 1976;Gill et al, 1977Gill et al, , 1979Stillman, 1982). In females, adenosis, clear cell adenocarcinoma, and structural defects of the cervix, vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes have been linked to in utero exposure to DES (Stillman, 1982).…”