Effects of a low oral dose of diethylstilbestrol (DES) on reproductive tract development in F1 female CD-1 mice

The synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES) is a model to study the effects on female reproductive tract of endocrine disrupting chemicals interacting with estrogen receptors. Pregnant CD-1 mice were given daily by gavage 10 μg/kg bw of DES (the lower range of therapeutic exposure) during gestational days 9-16, critical period for reproductive tract development. Parameters of sexual development were recorded after weaning and at sexual maturation. No signs of general toxicity were observed in dams. In DES-treated group, reduced litter weight during lactation and earlier vaginal patency was observed. Uterus weight was increased in F1 treated females at weaning. Histological analysis showed reduced endometrium thickness and increased polyovular follicles, irregular and oocytes with condensed chromatin in the ovary at sexual maturity. Prenatal DES oral administration induces subtle but significant effects on puberty onset, uterine and ovary morphology.