AIMTo investigate the effect of diethylstilbestrol (DES), one of the most potent endocrine disruptors, on the metabolism of polyamines in hamster epididymis.

METHODSMale golden hamsters of 7-week-old were kept under a light and dark cycle of 14 h and 10 h for 1 week to stimulate maximally the gonadal function. DES was injected subcutaneously at doses of 0.01 mg . kg(-1) . day(-1), 0.1 mg . kg(-1) . day(-1) and 1 mg . kg(-1) . day(-1) for one week.

RESULTSDES treatment caused a significant decrease in the weight of epididymis. The activity of epididymal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) increased 1 day after DES treatment, kept at a high level for 4 days and then decreased to nearly normal level at day 7. The activity of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT) also increased transiently after DES treatment. The contents of putrescine, spermidine, spermine and N(1)-acetylspermidine were increased 1 day approximately 4 days after DES treatment and restored to normal at day 7. All these changes showed a marked difference between the caput and the cauda.

CONCLUSIONThe polyamine biosynthesis in the hamster epididymis can be affected by DES, a xenoestrogen. DES may probably affect polyamine metabolism in the epididymis by regulating the rate-limiting enzymes involved in the polyamine biosynthesis.

Acetyltransferases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cricetinae ; Diethylstilbestrol ; pharmacology ; Epididymis ; anatomy & histology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mesocricetus ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Ornithine Decarboxylase ; metabolism ; Polyamines ; metabolism ; Putrescine ; metabolism ; Spermidine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Spermine ; metabolism