Ultrastructure in pituitary gonadotrophs and Leydig cells of sterile male mice

Abstract

Mouse systems are used as models to test for chromosome translocations and other damage caused by exposure to environmental chemicals. To evaluate mutagenic activity of triethylenemelamine (TEM), 397 male offspring with chromosome translocations were produced from TEM-treated CD1 males and F1(C57BL/6J x BALB/c) females. Breeding tests showed 26 to be sterile but cytogenetic examination by hemiorchiectomy at 11-13 months was inconclusive because of reduced meiotic activity. Radioimmunoassay for serum testosterone showed a range from 0.96 ± 0.41ng/ml to 10.55 ± 1.65ng/ml in sterile males while fertile translocation and control animals showed 3.17 ± 0.53 ng/ml. This study used 2-3 animals per group, selected from a non-treated control group and from groups with high serum testosterone (HT), medial serum testosterone (MT) and low serum testosterone (LT).Pituitary and testes were removed from ether-anesthetized animals, immediately fixed in 4% gl utaraldehyde, post-fixed in 1% OsO4, dehydrated in ethanol, and embedded in Epon-araldite resin. Thin sections (l00nm) were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate then examined at 60kV in a Philips 201 electron microscope.