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Objective: To investigate the influence of diethylstilbestrol (DES) on the mRNA expressions of the androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor α (ERα), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and actin alpha 1 (ACTα1) in the gubernaculums testis of newborn mice and explore their action mechanisms., Methods: A total of 140 male Kunming mice were randomly divided into a blank control, a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) control, and 5 experimental groups to be treated subcutaneously with normal saline, DMSO, and DES at 0.02, 0.1, 0.5, 10 and 50 μg per kg of the body weight per day, respectively, at gestation days 9－17. On the first day after birth, the animals were sacrificed and the gubernaculums testis collected for detection of the mRNA expressions of AR, ERα, PCNA and ACTα1 by RT-PCR., Results: Compared with the DMSO control, the experimental groups, particularly the DES 10 and 50 μg groups, showed significant increases in the mRNA expression of ERα (RE2 = 0.825, P <0.05), but remarkable decreases in those of AR, PCNA and ACTα1 (RA2 = 0.713, RP2 = 0.946, RT2 = 0.960, P <0.01), all in a dose-dependent manner., Conclusions: The AR, ERα, PCNA, and ACTα1 mRNA are expressed in the gubernaculum testis of normal newborn mice, and their expression levels may be influenced by intervention with different concentrations of DES during the gestation. Exogenous estrogens may affect the proliferation and contraction of gubernaculum testis cells and consequently the normal development of the testis or even the whole male reproductive system by influencing the metabolism of ER and/or AR.

The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), also known as G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30), was identified in the recent years as a functional membrane receptor different from the classical nuclear estrogen receptors. This receptor is widely expressed in the cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, heart, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, and the urogenital system. It is responsible for the mediation of nongenomic effects associated with estrogen and its derivatives, participating in the physiological activities of the body. The present study reviews the molecular structure, subcellular localization, signaling pathways, distribution, and function of GPER in the male reproductive system.

Objective: To investigate the impact of prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) on the specific receptor LGR8 of insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) in the mouse gubernaculum testis, and that of exoestrogens on descensus testis in mice., Methods: A total of 120 pregnant KM mice aged 8 to 10 weeks were assigned to a normal, a blank control and 4 DES groups of equal number, the blank controls injected subcutaneously with dimethyl sulfoxide plus normal saline, and the DES groups with DES at 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 microg/kg body weight, respectively, from embryonic day 9 (ED9) through ED17. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR were used to detect the expressions of LGR8 protein and mRNA in the gubernaculum testis of the ED18 fetuses and PND20 (postnatal day 20) offspring of the mice., Results: Histological analysis showed that the gubernaculum testis of the ED18 fetuses were well developed in both the normal and control groups, with an inner mesenchymal core and muscular outer layer. In contrast, the gubernaculum testis were poorly developed in the experimental groups, morphologically abnormal and without visible dividing line between the mesenchymal tissue and the muscular outer layer. No obvious differences were found in the gubernaculum testis development of the neonates between the normal and experimental groups. Positive immunostaining was seen in the mesenchymal core and muscular outer layer, but mainly in the latter. The expression of LGR8 was weaker in the experimental groups than in the normal group (P < 0.05), but that of LGR8 mRNA was increased in the high-dose (10 and 100 microg/kg) DES groups (P < 0.05). No obvious mutations were observed in the PCR products in any of the experimental groups., Conclusion: Prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol affected the expression of LGR8 mRNA in the mouse gubernaculum testis, which suggests that diethylstilbestrol may induce cryptorchidism by interfering with the INSL3-LGR8 signaling system and consequently the development of the gubernaculum testis.

46, XY disorders of sexual development (46, XY DSD) are a group of complicated clinical conditions, which involve medical care, society, ethics and many other aspects. As chronic diseases, they necessitate long-term or even lifelong physical and mental follow-up and treatment. Early diagnosis and reasonable treatment could not only achieve appropriate development of the secondary sexual characteristics, but also effectively prevent gonadal malignancy. In recent years, environment pollution and other factors are contributing to the increasing incidence of 46, XY DSD all over the world. A deeper clinical insight into these disorders helps their earlier diagnosis and maximum improvement of prognosis. The etiology, new classification and treatment of 46, XY DSD are reviewed in this article.

Objective: To establish a primary culture of the testis gubernacular cells of Kunming mice, observe the morphological characteristics of the cells, and explore the effects of exogenous estrogens (EEs) on the development of the testis gubernacula in vitro., Methods: We removed the gubernacula from 3-day-old mice with the surgical magnifier and cultured the gubernacular cells. Then we detected the cell viability by trypan blue and cell morphology by HE staining. The subcultured cells were randomly divided into a blank control, a DMSO (0.1%, v/v) control, and 4 experimental groups (given 0.01, 0.10, 1.00 and 10.00 micdrog/ml of diethylstilbestrol [DES] dissolved in DMSO, respectively). After treated for 12, 24 and 48 hours, the gubernacular cells were observed for morphological changes and proliferation inhibition by CCK-8., Results: Most of the cultured gubernacular cells were fibroblasts, and a few were epithelioids. The primary cells showed a viability of 85%-90%. Dose- and time-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation was found in the four experimental groups at three different times, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Gubernacular cells can be cultured in vitro. EEs inhibit the proliferation of gubernacular cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. An in- sight into the effects EES on cultured gubernacular cells is an effective approach to the study of their influence on the development of the reproductive system.

Objective: To explore the feasibility of serial slices microscopic histological investigation for the elaborate evaluation of reproductive system malformations., Methods: Newborn male mice prenatally exposed to different doses of subcutaneously given diethylstilbestrol (DES) from gestational day 9 to 17 were treated by fixing parts of the abdomen in situ and setting them to transected serial slices. All the slices were stained, studied under the microscope and serially recorded by software. The gubernaculum was morphologically analyzed and its location and size were measured., Results: Morphologically, the gubernaculum could be identified clearly, its structure inhomogeneous from proximal to distal and dissymmetric from right to left. The environmental estrogen produced different effects on the morphology of the gubernaculum in different parts and most obviously affected its length., Conclusion: Prenatal exposure to environmental estrogen has evident and general effects on the gubernacular development of newborn male mice. The morphological study with serial histological slices gives a precise and systematic evaluation of genital malformations.

The testicular gubernaculum plays an important role in testicular descent and development. Its differentiation and development are affected by many factors. Androgens, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3), Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and environmental estrogens (EEs) are involved in gubernacular development. The effect of CGRP, INSL3 and especially EEs on genital system has been attracted more attention.

Testicular descent is an essential step in the course of reproductive system development. The mechanisms involved in the regulation of testis descent is not distinct. Gubernaculum has a very close relationship with testis descent. Maldescent of testis can cause abnormalities of genital system such as testicular underwent (cryptorchidism), dysplasia, tumor, infertility and low sexuality. Recently insulin like hormone 3 is a hotspot of concerning affecting gubernacular development and testicular descent. This article briefly reviews the advances in these aspects.