Testicular morphology and expression of aromatase in testes of mice with the mosaic mutation (Atp7a mo-ms)

The aim of this study was to determine whether testicular cells of mice with the mosaic mutation, associated with abnormal copper metabolism, are able to aromatize androgens to estrogens, and what is the putative role of estrogens in the gonad of the mutant male. Mosaic is a lethal mutation; affected males usually die on about day 16. Those, which survive to reach sexual maturity, are valuable research subjects. In testes of young and adult mutants, histological analysis revealed the presence of many degenerating seminiferous tubules besides normal-looking ones. Additionally, high numbers of apoptotic germ cells were observed, especially in young mutants when compared with the controls. Positive immunostaining for aromatase was found in cultured Leydig cells and testicular sections of both control and mutant males. The intensity of immunostaining was always stronger in the mosaic mice. In both groups, Western-blot analysis revealed the presence of aromatase protein as a single band of approximately 55 kDa. In the mosaic males, levels of testosterone in cultured Leydig cells, whole testes, and in blood plasma were lower than in those of the respective controls. On the contrary, estradiol concentrations were always higher in the mutants. Both in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that morphological and functional changes in the testes of the mosaic mice mainly result from defective copper metabolism. The higher level of endogenous estrogens can additionally enhance morphological alterations within the testes. It seems also likely that excess estrogens may affect the survival rate of the mosaic males.