Abnormal Morphology of the Penis in Male Rats Exposed Neonatally to Diethylstilbestrol Is Associated with Altered Profile of Estrogen Receptor(alpha) Protein, but Not of Androgen Receptor Protein: A Developmental and Immunocytochemical Study1

Objectives of the study were to determine developmental changes in morphology and expression of androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor (ER)-(alpha)-positive cells were limited to the stroma of corpus spongiosus in all age groups of both control and treated rats, but the expression in treated rats at 18 days was up-regulated in stromal cells of corpora cavernosa, coincident with the presence of morphological abnormalities. Hence, this study reports for the first time DES-induced developmental, morphological abnormalities in the body of the penis and suggests that these abnormalities may have resulted from decreased T and/or overexpression of ER-(alpha).