beta-estradiol 3-benzoate affects spermatogenesis in the adult mouse

beta -estradiol 3-benzoate (E2B) (10, 16, 20, 40, 80 and 160 mug/kg body we ight) was administered daily to experimental groups of adult mice For the f ollowing periods; 2, 3 days, 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Morphological changes in the testes were observed by both light and electron microscopy. Exfoliatio n of the germ cells was observed in the lumen of the seminiferous tubule. T he spermatogenic cycle, especially stage XII, was disordered. Spermatids ol der than step 6 were severely affected. Detected abnormalities in the sperm atids were deformation of the nucleus and autosome. Partial deletion in the Sertoli-spermatid ectoplasmic specialization was also observed. Germ cells younger than step 7 spermatids were not affected morphologically. These ab normalities were not detected in the mice treated with the chemical at less than 16 mug/kg body weight. It is concluded that the chemical seems to aff ect round spermatids metabolically, but the morphological effect can be det ected only from the spermatids older than step 6. The effects of the chemic al on adult mice were reversible. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. Al l rights reserved.