MÜllerian Duct Maintenance in Heterotypic Organ Culture afterin VivoExposure to Diethylstilbestrol

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Abstract
Prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) results in the persistence of Muellerian ducts in male offspring. The influence of DES on Muellerian duct regression was studied using a [mouse] organ culture system in which DES-treated or control indifferent ducts (embryonic reproductive tracts) were cocultured along with treated or control embryonic tests. Prenatal DES exposure was by s.c. injection of the mother (100 .mu.g/kg body wt) on days 9 through 12 of gestation. Embryonic tissues were removed on day 13 of gestation and cultured for 72 h. In organ culture, Muellerian duct regression, comparable to that seen in vivo, occurred when control reproductive tracts were associated with control testes. Maintenance of the Muellerian duct was observed in 100% of the tissues when DES-treated testes and DES-treated reproductive tracts were cultured together. When recombinations were formed by the association of control reproductive tracts and DES-treated testes, there was regression of the Muellerian duct (87%). In the combinations of DES-treated reproductive tracts and control testes, 41% of the cultured tissue demonstrated partial regression of the Muellerian duct, and 59% showed no regression. Prenatal exposure to DES apparently has an inhibitory effect on Muellerian duct regression and this inhibitory effect apparently is mainly due to a decrease in responsiveness of the treated embryonic Muellerian duct.