Changes in Gonads of Male and Female Offspring of Mice Receiving a Continuous Intravenous Infusion of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin during Gestation

Summary

In male offspring of mice given a continuous intravenous infusion of 24 IU/day hCG from days 15 to 19 of gestation (hCG-primed mice), the number of Leydig cells/testis at 15 days of age was similar to the value at 10 days, whereas the cells were decreased in number in the controls at 15 days. Mitotic rate of the interstitial tissue in 30-day-old, hCG-primed mice was lower than in the controls. In seminiferous tubules of hCG-primed? mice, intratubular spaces were formed at 15 days, while the spaces in the controls were observed at 30 days. Various disorganization of the germinal epithelium occurred in some tubules of hCG-primed mice at 30—90 days. Spermatogenesis was impaired in the damaged tubules. Female hCG-primed mice showed a slightly longer estrus (24 IU/ day), a higher frequency of estrus and larger number of total estrus days (120 IU/day) than those in the controls. Ovaries of 160-day-old, hCG-primed mice (24 IU/day) contained normal follicles more than those in the controls. Corpora lutea decreased in number in both groups of hCG-primed mice, showing a lower corpus-luteum occupancy. These findings suggest the occurrence of a slight degree of persistent-estrus syndrome in hCG-primed female mice.

Key Words

hCG-priming - Persistent estrus - Mice