control
- testis tubules contain cysts showing a full range of spermatogenesis stages
- the lumen of the tubules are filled with mature sperm
day 3 of exposure to 10 ng/L EE2
- no obvious aberrations:
- testis tubules contain cysts showing a full range of spermatogenesis stages
- the lumen of the tubules are filled with mature sperm
day 24 of exposure to 10 ng/L EE2
- most tubular cysts contain mainly early spermatogonia, only occasional cysts contain more progressed stages of spermatogenesis; this image suggests inhibition of spermatogenesis, and can be observed from day 12 of exposure
- mature sperm is still present in the tubular lumen, although it seems to encompass a smaller area compared to unexposed testis
adult male zebrafish, H&E (all images) day 24 postexposure (after 24 days to 10 ng/L EE2)
- full histologic recovery
- testis tubules contain cysts showing a full range of spermatogenesis stages
- the lumen of the tubules are filled with mature sperm
Reference
- van den Belt-K, Wester-PW, van der Ven-LTM, Verheyen-R, and Witters-H. Time-dependent effects of ethynylestradiol on the reproductive physiology in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 21:767-77; 2002.