• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.365-373
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• 2006

The present study was designed to characterize the effects of estrogen receptor agonist (4,4',4'-(4-Propyl-[1H]-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl) trisphenol, PPT) on liver and kidney in male mouse using a light microscopic analysis. PPT was subcutaneously given to adult male mice at a weekly dosage of 178.6mg/kg in a volume 0.08 ml of vehicle for 3, 5 and 8 weeks. There were differences in body and organ weights between control and the treated groups. Body and kidney weights were decreased in treated group whereas, liver weight was increased. In microscopic observations, sinusoidal diameter in liver of treated group was increased 156%, 216% and 255% on week 3, 5 and 8 respectively. Compared to the control, diameter of proximal convoluted tubules in kidney was increased 37% and 43% or week 5 and 8 in treated group. Whereas, height of epithelial cells in the proximal tubules was reduced at all time points. These results suggest that microstructure of liver and kidney was changed by treatment of estrogen receptor agonist PPT in the male mice.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2009

This study investigated that exposure of male mice to estrogen receptor $\alpha$-selective agonist, 4,4',4"-(4-propyl-[1H]-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl)tris-phenol (PPT) induce morphological changes of accessory genital glands. The male reproductive organs were fixed and processed for light microscopy. The PPT induced decreases of ventral prostates, seminal vesicles and preputial glands weights with experimental time. The glandular lumen of ventral prostate was atrophied compared with control group. Type of epithelial tissues in the prostate was changed from simple columnar epithelium to stratified cuboidal or squamous epithelium. Treated group with the agonist showed that increased connective tissue underlying epithelium in the prostate and seminal vesicle. Especially, the glandular lumen of the seminal vesicle was contracted when PPT-treated animals were compared with control group. Secretion cells of preputial gland were smaller than that of control group. On week 8, PPT treatment caused decrease of epithelial cell height lining the lumen of preputial gland. These results provide information useful in researching the physiological function of estrogen mediated by estrogen receptor $\alpha$ in male accessory genital gland.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1070-1077
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• 2014

In this study, the estrogen receptor agonist propyl pyrazole triol (PPT), which has high-affinity with the estrogen receptor alpha, was subcutaneously injected into adult male mice every 2 days for 8, 16 and 24 days, after which histological changes in accessory genital glands, including the prostate and seminal vesicle, and the liver were observed. The body and genital gland weights decreased in the PPT group relative to those of the control group. However, the liver weight was two times greater in the PPT group. The luminal area of the prostate and seminal vesicle organs was lower in the PPT group, and the epithelial cell height of the prostate was increased relative to that of the control. There were many secretory vacuoles in the supranuclear cytoplasm of epithelial cells in the seminal vesicles of the control group, but these were not observed in the PPT group. The short sinusoidal diameter of the liver was 147.0%, 198.7%, and 223.3% greater in the PPT group than in the control group after 8, 16, and 24 days of treatment, respectively. These results suggest that PPT administration affected the reproductive organs and the liver and that the histological changes increased in accordance with a rise in the concentration of PPT. Overall, the PPT treatment caused changes in the epithelial cell height and resulted in atrophy of the luminal area of the prostate, leading to altered fertility. The sinusoidal diameter of the liver dramatically increased in response to the administration of PPT, increasing the liver weight.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.193-200
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• 2016

Male reproductive organs are strongly affected by estrogen signaling mediated via the estrogen receptor. In this study, propyl pyrazole triol (PPT), an estrogen receptor alpha agonist, was subcutaneously injected in adult male mice every 2 days for a total duration of 8, 16, or 24 days. Histological changes in the reproductive organs, including the testes, efferent ductules, and epididymides, were observed. The weight of the reproductive organs decreased in the PPT group. In addition, the diameter of the seminiferous tubules decreased in the PPT group compared with the control group. The epithelial cell height decreased in the initial segment of the epididymis, whereas the luminal diameter increased in the efferent ductules of the PPT group. PPT induced irregular morphology of stereocilia in the luminal region of the initial segment. Therefore, PPT treatment at high concentrations had inhibitory effects in the reproductive organs of adult male mice. These findings suggest that short-term treatment with estrogen receptor agonist causes histological changes in the testes, efferent ductules, and epididymis, which are similar to those caused by estrogen receptor antagonist treatment. Therefore, the estrogen receptor may have functional roles in male reproductive organs, implying that treatment with an estrogen receptor agonist can affect male fertility.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.265-276
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• 2011

The aim of the present study is to validate the effects of treatment with different concentration of estrogen receptor alpha agonist, propyl pyrazole triol (PPT) on the weight and histological structure in the accessory reproductive organs (ventral prostate, seminal vesicle and preputial gland) of male mouse. Treated groups received different doses of PPT 0.01 mg, 0.1 mg and 1.0 mg per week respectively, for 3, 5, and 8 weeks. In general, the weight of reproductive organs was increased in PPT 0.01 mg and 0.1 mg treatment, however decreased in PPT 1.0 mg treatment. Epithelial tissues in the ventral prostate were changed from simple columnar epithelium to squamous or cuboidal epithelium in the treated groups. On week 3, PPT groups caused decrease of epithelial cell height in the ventral prostate. Lumen of the seminal vesicle was narrowed in the treated group. Epithelial cell height of seminal vesicle was reduced in the PPT treatment. Acinus tissue of preputial gland in PPT 1.0 mg treatment was dramatically atrophied than that of control group. These results are useful as a reference to determine the administration concentration of PPT in experiments for understanding the physiological functions of estrogen in the male.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2011

Known as a female hormone, estrogen, has an effect on the male reproductive organs. The estrogen has to combine with the estrogen receptor to communicate a signal. Propyl pyrazole triol (PPT) is an estrogen receptor alpha selective agonist with a 410-, or 1,000-fold relative binding affinity for estrogen receptor alpha versus estrogen receptor beta. In this study, adult male mice were treated weekly with subcutaneously injections of PPT (0.01 mg, 0.1 mg, 1mg and 4 mg) suspended in castor oil (as control) for 8 weeks and observed histologically changes in testis, efferent ductule and epididymis. In the high concentrations of PPT 4 mg treatment group, a remarkable reduction was observed in the weight of the body, testis and epididymis. Microscopic examination revealed a reduction in seminiferous tubular diameter of the testis, and epithelial cell height of the epididymis in treated group during the experiment. In addition, as the diameter of the efferent ductule increased gradually, the height of epithelial cells was decreased. PPT 4 mg treatment group caused inhibition of spermatogenesis due to atrophied germinal epithelium in the testis, and decrease of adipocyte size attached to the epididymis. Sperm was not observed in the caudal epididymis of PPT 4 mg treated group. In conclusion, the injection of high concentrations of PPT into adult male mice induced physiological changes, such as an inhibition of spermatogenesis, and also histological changes within the reproductive organs.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.103-109
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• 2013

ICI 182,780 (ICI) is known as an estrogen receptor antagonist, whereas propyl pyrazole triol (PPT) is an estrogen receptor agonist. In this study, ICI or ICI added with PPT was injected into adult male mice. Body and reproductive organ weights were reduced in the ICI added with PPT group compared to the control group. Further, the ICI and ICI added with PPT groups both showed increases in luminal areas of the seminiferous tubules of the testis, whereas cell heights of efferent ductules and the initial segment of the epididymis were reduced. Sperm count in the caudal epididymis was reduced in the ICI and ICI added with PPT groups. These results show that reproductive tissues were more deeply affected in the ICI added with PPT group. We also demonstrated that treatment with ICI resulted in histological changes in the testis, efferent ductule, and epididymis. Further, alternate treatment with ICI and PPT induced abnormalities in reproductive organs. These results indicate that a high concentration of PPT together with ICI may cause histological abnormalities instead of histological restoration in reproductive organs.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.205-212
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• 2009

Known as a female hormone, estrogen, performs important functions, and the activities of the hormone are mediated via the estrogen receptor. The principal objective of the present study was to assess the effects of a estrogen receptor agonist in male reproductive organs. In this study, the estrogen receptor alpha agonist, PPT, was injected subcutaneously into adult male mice. The effects of PPT on the murine reproductive system were histologically assessed at 3,5, and 8 weeks after treatment. In the treatment group, reductions were observed in the weight of the body, testis and epididymis. Microscopic examination revealed a reduction in seminiferous tubular diameter in the testis, and epithelial cell height in the epididymis during the experiment. 8 weeks after treatment, spermatogenesis was not detected, nor was the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. In the fertility test, 1 week after PPT injection, the fertilizing ability of males was decreased, and on the 2nd and 3rd weeks, complete infertility was observed. In conclusion, the injection of high concentrations of PPT into adult males induced physiological changes, including infertility, and also induced morphological changes, including a reduction in the height of epithelial cells within the reproductive system.