Table 3. Gonad surface area, gonadal cortex thickness and percentage of seminiferous tubules of chicken embryos after in ovo exposure to fulvestrant (Ful, 0.1, 1, 10 µg/g egg) and EE2 (20 ng/g egg) or co-exposure to all concentrations of fulvestrant and EE2.
| Sex | Group | Gonad surface area | Cortex thickness (µm) | Seminiferous tubules (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| left (mm2) | right (mm2) | ||||
| Male | NC | 4.22 ± 0.95 | 3.92 ± 0.57 | 10.1 ± 0.40 | 28.3 ± 4.49 |
| SC | 3.99 ± 0.46 | 3.91 ± 0.30 | 10.7 ± 0.73 | 30.2 ± 1.83 | |
| Ful 0.1 | 4.24 ± 0.42 | 3.55 ± 0.24 | 11.5 ± 0.61 | 33.8 ± 3.56 | |
| Ful 1 | 3.90 ± 0.36 | 3.49 ± 0.13 | 11.6 ± 1.30 | 32.0 ± 2.60 | |
| Ful 10 | 3.99 ± 0.82 | 3.24 ± 0.66 | 12.0 ± 1.54 | 30.6 ± 3.98 | |
| EE2 | 6.66 ± 0.82c | 3.79 ± 0.23 | 44.6 ± 39.3a | 27.3 ± 4.65 | |
| Ful 0.1 +EE2 | 5.23 ± 1.23 | 3.71 ± 0.89 | 25.0 ± 18.3 | 26.4 ± 1.23 | |
| Ful 1 +EE2 | 6.21 ± 1.09b | 3.75 ± 0.67 | 47.6 ± 49.4a | 23.6 ± 2.82a | |
| Ful 10 +EE2 | 4.12 ± 0.53 | 3.29 ± 1.05 | 10.4 ± 0.91 | 31.4 ± 2.70 | |
| Female | NC | 10.3 ± 0.69c | 2.38 ± 0.34b | 143 ± 33.9 | – |
| SC | 8.23 ± 0.95 | 1.80 ± 0.34 | 154 ± 30.0 | – | |
| Ful 0.1 | 9.35 ± 0.72 | 1.84 ± 0.68 | 149 ± 15.0 | – | |
| Ful 1 | 8.80 ± 1.03 | 2.10 ± 0.40 | 145 ± 32.7 | – | |
| Ful 10 | 8.91 ± 1.20 | 2.01 ± 0.37 | 149 ± 19.5 | – | |
| EE2 | 8.40 ± 0.91 | 1.81 ± 0.27 | 133 ± 15.0 | – | |
| Ful 0.1 +EE2 | 8.50 ± 1.98 | 1.69 ± 0.45 | 153 ± 8.89 | – | |
| Ful 1 +EE2 | 8.74 ± 1.12 | 1.67 ± 0.37 | 146 ± 37.2 | – | |
| Ful 10 +EE2 | 11.0 ± 1.37c | 1.68 ± 0.41 | 153 ± 21.5 | – | |
Notes.
Statistical analysis by one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s multiple comparison test. Lowercase indicate significant differences compared to the solvent control (SC). NC, untreated control. Level of significance: ap < 0.05; bp < 0.01; c0.001.