Figure 7

Quantitative analysis of the effect of DBP exposure on germ cell migration to the basal lamina in the e21.5 rat testis. Sections were triple immunostained for SOX9 (red, Sertoli cells), VASA (green, germ cells), and smooth muscle actin (blue, peritubular myoid cells and some blood vessels). In (a), note that in controls at this age the germ cells are migrating outwards to the basal lamina of the cords (arrows). In (b–d), after DBP exposure germ cells are clustered in the centre of the cords (asterisks), but this is less extensive in the DBP-MPW group (b) in which some germ cells still show migration to the basal lamina (arrows), whereas this is rarely seen in the DBP-LW (c) and DBP-FW (d) groups. (e) Quantitative analysis of the percentage of basally migrated germ cells (GC) in the different treatment groups. Values are means ± SEM for 5–6 animals per group. Data were analyzed by Student’s t-test, when comparison involved only two groups (control vs. DBP-exposed); and by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test, when appropriate. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, n.s. = not significant.