OBJECTIVETo establish an easily reproducible animal model of hypospadias and to test whether Atrazine can induce hypospadias in animal experiment.

METHODSFrom the 11th to 16th day after conception, 120 conceived SD rats were divided randomly into 6 groups: one coin oil group (1 ml/kg/d), two finasteride groups (10 mg/kg/d, 20 mg/kg/d), three Atrazine groups (25 mg/kg/d, 100 mg/kg/d, 200 mg/kg/d). When all pregnant rats had delivered, the new born rats were counted and the penis appearance, urethral orifice position and micturition were observed with magnifying lens and anatomy microscope.

RESULTSHypospadias were found in new born male rats treated prenatally with Finasteride (10 mg/kg/d, 20 mg/kg/d) and 200 mg/kg/d Atrazine groups. The incidence was 28.30%, 67.03%, 10.23% respectively. Embryotoxic effects were observed at 25 mg/kg/d Atrazine group in 2 rats and associated with no severe maternal toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS(1) A hypospadias SD rats model can be established by Finasteride and it is easily reproducible. (2) The Atrazine was teratogenic to the SD rats, embryotoxic effects were observed at the low dose level and associated with no severe maternal toxicity.