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The Differential Fate of Mesonephric Tubular-Derived Efferent Ductules in Estrogen Receptor- Knockout Versus Wild-Type Female Mice¹

Departments of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri (C.S.R., D.B.L.), Columbia, Missouri 65211; Veterinary Biosciences, University of Illinois (P.S.C., R.A.H.), Urbana, Illinois 61802; Animal Science, Texas A & M University (T.H.W.), College Station, Texas 77843; Biochemistry and Child Health, University of Missouri (G.S., M.G.H., D.B.L.), Columbia, Missouri 65211; and Medical Nutrition and Biosciences, Karolinska Institute, NOVUM (J.-Å.G.), S-141 86 Huddinge, Sweden

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dennis B. Lubahn, Ph.D., University of Missouri, 163 ASRC, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, Missouri 65211. E-mail: lubahnd{at}missouri.edu

We investigated mesonephric tubular-derived efferent ductules in female wild-type (WT) and estrogen receptor- knockout (ERKO) mice from late fetal to adult life. On gestational day 17, efferent ductules in both fetal WT and ERKO females were well developed and morphologically similar, although one third the size of the male counterpart. Unexpectedly, efferent ductules with a ciliated epithelium were still present on postnatal day 10 in WT and ERKO females. By day 23, however, marked phenotypic differences occurred in efferent ductules of WT and ERßKO vs. ERKO female mice. In the latter, efferent ductules became hypertrophied and dilated, whereas only small tubules remained in WT and ERßKO adult mice. The serum testosterone concentrations were similar in 21- to 25-day-old ERKO, heterozygous, and WT female mice, suggesting that increased testosterone was not inducing enlargement of efferent ductules in ERKO females. In conclusion, remnants of efferent ductules persisted in normal adult female mice, although these structures were greatly reduced in size compared with efferent ductules in ERKO female mice. The underlying mechanism inducing hypertrophy and dilation of efferent ductules in ERKO females is not clear, but secretory and/or reabsorptive function of female efferent ductules may involve ER.