Adult exposure to diethylstilbestrol induces spermatogenic cell apoptosis in vivo through increased oxidative stress in male hamster

Effects of diethylstilbestrol (DES), an endocrine disrupting chemical, on abnormal spermatogenesis were studied in adult hamster using daily subcutaneous injection of 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg body weight for 1 week. Testicular weight and seminiferous tubular area gradually decreased as dosage increased to 1.0 mg/kg DES. Germ cells were rarefied and showed irregular distribution in seminiferous tubules. Apoptosis was pronounced among spermatocytes and spermatids at the 1.0 mg/kg dose level. Antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and total antioxide capacity (T-AOC) markedly decreased and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration significantly increased in the testes. These results suggest that DES (1.0 mg/kg) induces testicular oxidative stress and spermatogenic apoptosis in adult male hamsters to extend findings shown for prenatal and/or neonatal exposure.