The antiandrogen flutamide perturbs inguinoscrotal testicular descent in the rat and suggests a link with mammary development

Abstract

Aim: Inadequate androgen activity is a likely cause of cryptorchidism in humans, affecting inguinoscrotal testicular descent. Flutamide, a nonsteroidal antiandrogen, produces cryptorchidism in rats. We aimed to determine the anatomical and histologic effects of flutamide. Methods: Time-mated Sprague-Dawley female rats were injected subcutaneously with flutamide (75 mg/kg in sunflower oil) on days 16 to 19 of pregnancy. Embryonic (E) and postnatal (P) male offspring were collected (E16, E19, P0, P2, P4, P8) in control and flutamide-treated groups (n = 5-10). Samples were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde. Five-micrometer-thick sections were prepared for hematoxylin and eosin, trichrome and immunoh..