CEd-Tox: Continuing Education Courses Online

The Male Reproductive Tract: Development, Toxicology, and Pathology
Topic: Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology

SOT Virtual CE Course: PM14

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Chair(s): Vicki Sutherland, NIEHS/NTP; and Nicole Principato, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

Primary Endorser:
Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology Specialty Section

Other Endorser(s):
Biotechnology Comparative Toxicology, Pathology, and Veterinary Specialty Section; Regulatory and Safety Evaluation Specialty Section

The male reproductive system develops in utero–in rats during mid-gestation and in humans during the second month of pregnancy–but does not fully mature until puberty. Exposure to xenobiotics (e.g., diethylstilbestrol and phthalate exposure) during any stage, particularly during development and maturation, can adversely affect a male’s reproductive potential and play a significant role in development of a diseased state. Understanding what normally happens at these critical stages of development can lend clues to determine when an exposure has happened, what tissues are affected, and if functional capabilities will be impacted. Defining potential effects is routinely performed with guideline reproductive and developmental experiments and in academia with focused studies; however, these assessments do not always include histopathology evaluations, and if they do, the rigor needed for select tissues may not be utilized. Inclusion of histopathology, especially during select stages, may help identify a pattern of toxicities, subtle effects of an endocrine-disrupting chemical, or lesions that can lead to future reproductive issues (e.g., infertility). This additional data can expand our capabilities in characterizing potential modes of action that result in functional changes. Thus, a field that did not routinely assess tissues in more than a functional manner is now exploring the utility of pathology evaluations at stages not previously studied (e.g., juvenile assessment of cell populations in the testes) and appreciating that these tools can assist in recognizing patterns of toxicity. Therefore, a full toxicological and histopathology assessment of the male reproductive tract may provide additional information on functional effects, assist in determining which part of the system was targeted and how to mitigate concerns, and, for select issues, provide an early read on potential problems. This course will cover development and maturation of the male reproductive tract, explaining impacts on function at different time periods (in utero, juvenile, and adult) and addressing the potential value of histopathology at both the juvenile and the adult stages. Case studies will be used to highlight the toxicological significance of the effects of xenobiotics on male reproductive system toxicity. Understanding patterns of toxicity (e.g., effects in organ weight linked with findings in other tissues or pathology findings observed in a young animal correlating to outcomes in an adult) and utilizing some of the newer techniques and protocols (e.g., fetal testis explants, biomarkers) will not only provide a better understanding of what endpoints are affected but also may provide us with the tools to design better studies and correlate findings at earlier stages with long-term functional effects. To this end, four speakers, each a world-recognized expert in male anatomy, development, reproduction, and/or pathology, will discuss functional assessments of the male reproductive tract and address the utility of pathology in male reproductive and development evaluations.

• The Male Reproductive Tract: Development, Toxicology, and Pathology Topic: Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology
  

  An Overview of the Male Reproductive System: Applied Anatomy and Physiology from a Pathologist’s Perspective. J. Vidal. Charles River, Mattawan, MI.
  Sponsor: V. Sutherland

  Pathology in Reproductive Toxicology Assessments and the Role of Stage-Awareness for Testis Evaluation. C. Willson. Integrated Laboratory Systems Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC. Sponsor: V. Sutherland

  Postnatal Development of the Juvenile Male Reproductive Tract in Rats: Microscopic Evaluation, Interpretation, and Time Points of Toxicologic Significance. C. Picut. Charles River, Durham, NC.

  Prenatal Development of the Male Reproductive Tract in the Rat, Dog, and Human: Critical Developmental Windows and Later-Life Consequences of Exposure. K. Boekelheide. Brown University, Providence, RI.

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