Histological and Tissue Kinetic Studies on the Effects of Diethylstibestrol and Testosterone Propionate on the Testes of Syrian Hamster

The response of Syrian hamster testis to treatment of diethylstibestrol (DES) and testosterone propionate (TP) was investigated histologically and was also analyzed using the techniques of tissue kinetics. As a result of DES treatment, various histological changes occurred. Tegeneration and necrosis of spermatozoa were observed within 3 dats. Germinal epithelial cells were progressively reduced in number resulting in the atrophy of seminiferous tubules. On the other hand, the number of type B spermatogonia was invreased twice as many as normal contral. By 18th day of treatment, the so-called Sertoli cell tubules were formed and abnormal division of spermatid was observed occasionally. By a combined use of TP, the effect of DES on histological changes was minimized. Autoradiagraphic study using H3-thymidine showed that the position of ”the most advanced cells” was not changed by the administration of DES or TP, whereas ”the most delayed cells” remained slightly behind the contral. Therefore, on the average, spermatogenesis is delayed. It can be concluded from these observations that maturation of seminiferous epithelial cells was arrested in the stage of type B spermatognia under the influenfe of DES and TP conteracts DES.