[Changes in lanthanum permeability of rat Sertoli cell tight junction after CDDP administration]

Using electron microscope, distribution of lanthanum tracer in the seminiferous epithelium was evaluated in adult male rats 2, 7, 25 and 53 days after single intraperitoneal injection of 3 mg/kg of CDDP. Lanthanum penetrated beyond the tight junction between Sertoli cells and the maximum penetration around the spermatid was found on the 7th day, when any degenerative changes of seminiferous epithelium were not recognized light microscopically. And 4 weeks pretreatment with Cephalantin and Kallikulein had no effects on this lanthanum tracer penetration around the spermatid. On decreasing this lanthanum tracer penetration after 7 days, some lanthanum was also found around the spermatocytes on the 53rd day but not around the spermatid. It is proposed that lanthanum tracer penetration beyond the Sertoli cell tight junction may be a morphological marker of early Sertoli cell dysfunction after CDDP administration.