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KMID : 0350519950480010267
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Journal of Catholic Medical College
1995 Volume.48 No. 1 p.267 ~ p.277
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Morphological Observation of the Fetal Gubernacular Cord after Prenatal Exposure to Androgen and Antiandrogen in Rats
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Abstract
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The gubernaculum is known to be rich in androgen receptor protein, however whether or not it is the site of androgen's action in testicular descent remains controversial. There has been little documented effect of androgens or antiandrogens on
the
gubernaculum. In an attempt to investigate morphological alterations in gubernacular cord by androgens and antiandrogens, timed pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were administered either testosterone, flutamide or vehicle alone(control).
Injections were performed once daily on gestational days(GD) 15-19, the time of maximal androgenic activity for descent of the testis. Fetal pubs underwent a hemicorporectomy, with preservation of the lower body half, just cephalad to the
testicle.
They
were fixed in 4% formaldehyde, paraffin embedded and cut at 6㎛ thickness, and every other section was stained by hematoxylin-eosin. Using video plan image analysis system(VIDAS) program, serial step sections were then analyzed and 3- dimensional
reconstruction of gubernacular cords and their morphometric assessment were performed.
@ES The results were as follows ;
@EN 1. Generally, the 3-dimensionally reconstructed gubernacular cords were cylindrical or bell-shaped, having broad base. In flutamide-treated group, they looked more slender than other groups and some of them showed the tortuous shape. The
cords
in
testosterone-treated group were similar to those in control group.
2. The volumes of the gubernacular cords in these three groups were not significantly different, compared with each other group, even though those in flutamide-treated group were smaller than in any other groups.
3. The lengths of the gubernacular cords in flutamide-treated group were significantly longer than those in either testosterone-treated group or control group (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively). The gubernacular cords in testosterone-treated
group
were
shorter than those in control group, but this difference was not statistically significant.
4. The diameters of the gubernacular cords in flutamide-treated group were significantly narrower than those in either testosterone-treated group or control group (P<0.01 and P<0.01, respectively). The gubernacular cords in testosterone-treated
group
were wider than those in control group, but this difference was not statistically significant.
5. Thfe length and diameter of the gubernacular cord were significantly in reciprocal correlation (P<0.001).
Even though it was failed to show that testosterone significantly shorted the gubernacular cord, the gubernacular cords after exposure to flutamide were longer and more slender than those in any other group. Supposing this effect of flutamide is
due to
its antiandrogenic nature, it would inhibit the gubernacular cord to condense, by supressing androgen. Therefore, these results suggest that flutamide, an antiandrogen, interfere testicular descent and that the gubernacular cord may be shortened
and
thickened under the effect of androgen and actively bring the testicle into proximity of the gubernacular cone in the testicular descent.
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KEYWORD
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