Testicular histology of cryptorchid black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis) of Kodiak island, Alaska

Bubenik, George A.; Jacobson, J. P.

doi:10.1007/bf02189694

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Unilateral and bilateral cryptorchidism, along with many of the other symptoms of TDS, have also been reported in Alaskan black-tailed deer (Bubenik et al, 2001). Cryptorchid testes obtained from black-tailed deer contained malformed or degenerated seminiferous tubules containing Sertoli cells but lacking spermatogenic activity (Bubenik & Jacobson, 2002). In bucks with unilateral cryptorchidism, the normal testis exhibited normal spermatogenesis.…”

Section: Comparative Examples Of Testicular Dysgenesis Syndromementioning

confidence: 90%

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Reproductive dysgenesis in wildlife: a comparative view

2006

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Abnormal reproductive development in males has been linked to environmental contaminant exposure in a wide variety of vertebrates. These include humans, rodent models, and a large number of comparative wildlife species. In human males, abnormal reproductive development can manifest as a suite of symptoms, described collectively as testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS). TDS is also described as demasculinization or feminization of the male phenotype. The suite includes cryptorchidism, in situ germ cell carcinoma of the testis and overt testicular cancer, reduced semen quality, and hypospadias. In this paper, we review examples of TDS among comparative species. Wildlife exposed to environmental contaminants are susceptible to some of the same developmental abnormalities and subsequent symptoms as those seen in human males with TDS. There are additional end points, which are also discussed. In some cases, the symptoms are more severe than those normally seen in humans with TDS (i.e. oocytes developing within the testis) because some non-mammalian species exhibit greater innate reproductive plasticity, and are thus more easily feminized. Based on our review, we present an approach regarding the ontogeny of TDS. Namely, we suggest that male susceptibility to the androgynizing influences of environmental contaminants originates in the sexually undifferentiated embryo, which, in almost all species, including humans, consists of bipotential reproductive tissues. These tissues can develop as either male or female and their ultimate direction depends on the environment in which they develop.

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Section: Comparative Examples Of Testicular Dysgenesis Syndromementioning

confidence: 90%

“…, 2001). Cryptorchid testes obtained from black‐tailed deer contained malformed or degenerated seminiferous tubules containing Sertoli cells but lacking spermatogenic activity (Bubenik & Jacobson, 2002). In bucks with unilateral cryptorchidism, the normal testis exhibited normal spermatogenesis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive dysgenesis in wildlife: a comparative view

2006

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“…Hunters decided what deer to shoot, and we must assume that they represented all in that geographic area. SBTD in this study include those in earlier reports (Bubenik et al 2001; Bubenik and Jacobson 2002), but we did not rely on histological observations in the latter report.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A lay publication (Jacobson 2003) and earlier reports (Bubenik et al 2001; Bubenik and Jacobson, 2002) of unusually high incidence of cryptorchidism in SBTD led to the current study. To determine if there really is a problem of cryptorchid SBTD with abnormal antlers in the Kodiak Archipelago, we gathered additional data and compiled and scrutinized all data.…”

mentioning

confidence: 92%

Testis and Antler Dysgenesis in Sitka Black-Tailed Deer on Kodiak Island, Alaska: Sequela of Environmental Endocrine Disruption?

Veeramachaneni

Amann

Jacobson³

2006

Environ Health Perspect

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It had been observed that many male Sitka black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis) on Kodiak Island, Alaska, had abnormal antlers, were cryptorchid, and presented no evidence of hypospadias. We sought to better understand the problem and investigated 171 male deer for phenotypic aberrations and 12 for detailed testicular histopathology. For the low-lying Aliulik Peninsula (AP), 61 of 94 deer were bilateral cryptorchids (BCOs); 70% of these had abnormal antlers. Elsewhere on the Kodiak Archipelago, only 5 of 65 deer were BCOs. All 11 abdominal testes examined had no spermatogenesis but contained abnormalities including carcinoma in situ–like cells, possible precursors of seminoma; Sertoli cell, Leydig cell, and stromal cell tumors; carcinoma and adenoma of rete testis; and microlithiasis or calcifications. Cysts also were evident within the excurrent ducts. Two of 10 scrotal testes contained similar abnormalities, although spermatogenesis was ongoing. We cannot rule out that these abnormalities are linked sequelae of a mutation(s) in a founder animal, followed by transmission over many years and causing high prevalence only on the AP. However, based on lesions observed, we hypothesize that it is more likely that this testis–antler dysgenesis resulted from continuing exposure of pregnant females to an estrogenic environmental agent(s), thereby transforming testicular cells, affecting development of primordial antler pedicles, and blocking transabdominal descent of fetal testes. A browse (e.g., kelp) favored by deer in this locale might carry the putative estrogenic agent(s).

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“…This results in a variety of post-mortem changes before the animals can be investigated and the tissue placed in fixative. Problems with delayed fixation have been discussed in previous environmental studies [ 3 , 19 ]. It is highly important that methods to separate post mortem histological changes caused by delayed fixation from pre-mortem pathological changes are devised.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Pre-Fixation Delay and Freezing on Mink Testicular Endpoints for Environmental Research

et al. 2015

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There is growing interest in using wild animals to monitor the real-life cocktail effect of environmental chemicals on male reproduction. However, practical difficulties, such as long distances to the laboratory, generally prolong the time between euthanisation and specimen handling. For instance, tissue fixation is often performed on frozen material or on material where deterioration has started, which may affect tissue morphology. This study examined the effect of pre-fixation delay and freezing on mink testicular endpoints in order to determine robust endpoints in suboptimally handled specimens. Sexually mature farmed mink (n=30) selected at culling were divided into six groups and subjected to different time intervals between euthanisation and fixation or freezing: 0 hours (fixed immediately post mortem), 6 hours, 18 hours, 30 hours, 42 hours, or frozen 6 hours post mortem and thawed overnight. Unaffected endpoints when pre-fixation storage was extended to 30 hours included: area and diameter of the seminiferous tubules, length and weight of the testes, and acrosomes marked with Gata-4. Epithelial height, Sertoli cells marked with Gata-4 and cell morphology were affected endpoints after 6 hours of storage. Freezing the tissue prior to fixation severely altered cell morphology and reduced testicular weight, tubular diameter and area. Morphological changes seen after 6 hours included shredded germ cells and excess cytoplasm in seminiferous tubular lumen, chromatin rearrangements and increased germ cell death. Extended delay before fixation and freezing affected many endpoints in the mink testicular tissue. Some of these endpoints may mimic chemically induced effects, which is important to consider when evaluating specimens from wild animals for environmental toxicity.

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Testicular histology of cryptorchid black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis) of Kodiak island, Alaska

Cited by 6 publications

References 4 publications

Reproductive dysgenesis in wildlife: a comparative view

Reproductive dysgenesis in wildlife: a comparative view

Testis and Antler Dysgenesis in Sitka Black-Tailed Deer on Kodiak Island, Alaska: Sequela of Environmental Endocrine Disruption?

Effect of Pre-Fixation Delay and Freezing on Mink Testicular Endpoints for Environmental Research

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