Figure 3

Seminiferous cord formation occurs normally after exposure to DBP during either the FW or the MPW. Sections in (a) were triple immunostained for SOX9 (red, Sertoli cells), 3β-HSD (green, Leydig cells) and COUP-TFII (blue, mesenchymal cells) whereas sections in (b) were immunostained for SOX9 (red, Sertoli cells), 3β-HSD (green, Leydig cells) and smooth muscle actin (blue). Two days after the beginning of DBP treatment (e15.5, DBP-FW treatment; e17.5, DBP-MPW treatment), the seminiferous cords are normally formed (*) in the testis and only occasional ectopic Sertoli cells are seen, comparable to the situation in controls (see Fig. 4). Note the abnormal central Leydig cell aggregation (LC) at e17.5 in the testis of the DBP-MPW exposed rat, which constitutes the first sign of dysgenesis.