Developmental changes of the hypogastric ganglion associated with the differentiation of the reproductive tracts in the mouse.

Prenatal exposure of male or female mice to diethylstilbestrol (DES) or testosterone propionate (TP) from days 9 to 16 of gestation produces pseudohermaphrodites with dual reproductive tracts. In these animals, the hypogastric ganglion which is thought to innervate the internal genitalia was examined at birth. The number of ganglion cells was significantly larger in prenatally DES-exposed male and TP-exposed female mice than that of controls. These results suggest that the number of hypogastric ganglion cells is dependent on the number of the target organs for innervation.