%0 Journal Article
%T Occurrence of testicular microlithiasis in androgen insensitive hypogonadal mice
%A Peter J O'Shaughnessy
%A Ana Monteiro
%A Guido Verhoeven
%A Karl De Gendt
%A Margaret H Abel
%J Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
%D 2009
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1477-7827-7-88
%X This was an observational study of the testicular phenotype of different mouse models. The mouse models were: cryptorchid mice, mice lacking androgen receptors (ARs) on the Sertoli cells (SCARKO), mice with a ubiquitous loss of androgen ARs (ARKO), hypogonadal (hpg) mice which lack circulating gonadotrophins, and hpg mice crossed with SCARKO (hpg.SCARKO) and ARKO (hpg.ARKO) mice.Microscopic TM was seen in 94% of hpg.ARKO mice (n = 16) and the mean number of microliths per testis was 81 +/- 54. Occasional small microliths were seen in 36% (n = 11) of hpg testes (mean 2 +/- 0.5 per testis) and 30% (n = 10) of hpg.SCARKO testes (mean 8 +/- 6 per testis). No microliths were seen in cryptorchid, ARKO or SCARKO mice. There was no significant effect of FSH or androgen on TM in hpg.ARKO mice.We have identified a mouse model of TM and show that lack of endocrine stimulation is a cause of TM. Importantly, this model will provide a means with which to identify the mechanisms of TM development and the underlying changes in protein and gene expression.Testicular microlithiasis (TM) is characterised by the presence of microcalcification within the seminiferous tubules. In the normal human population the incidence is between 1.5 and 5.6% [1-3] and in itself microlithiasis is benign but there may be significant association with malignant conditions such as testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) [4-7] and other conditions such as cryptorchidism, varicocele, infertility, and testicular torsion [8,9]. In addition, it has been suggested that there may be a genetic predisposition to TM which is linked to TGCT formation so that identifying the underlying causes of microlithiasis may help identify susceptibility factors for TGCTs [5]. Development of an animal model of TM would, therefore, not only represent significant progress towards an understanding of the origins and underlying molecular mechanisms of microlithiasis but may help identify associated risk factors for other conditions.The hy
%U http://www.rbej.com/content/7/1/88