OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of vinyl chloride on reproductive and endocrine system of male rats.

METHODSMale SD rats were administered with vinyl chloride at dose of (0, 10, 100, 1000 mg/kg) for 14 and 28 days, respectively. The levels of testosterone (T), inhibin B, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) were measured in serum and testis homogenates. Histopathological examinations were performed for testis with electron microscopy.

RESULTSCompared with the control group after 14-day exposure, T and E2 serum levels of 1000, 100, 10 mg/kg groups decreased, InhB and LH levels of three dose groups increased. LH serum levels of 100 mg/kg increased significantly statistically compared with control group (P < 0.05). After 28-day exposure, T serum levels of 100, 1000 mg/kg groups were (10.90 +/- 1.56), (8.52 +/- 2.85) ng/ml respectively (P < 0.05), InhB serum levels of 100, 1000 mg/kg groups were (31.40 +/- 6.21), (28.39 +/- 5.67) pg/ml respectively. Both of T and InhB serum levels of 100, 1000 mg/kg groups decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Serum FSH levels of 10, 100, 1000 mg/kg groups decreased significantly compared with control group (P < 0.05). Compared with groups of 14-day exposure, serum InhB and LH levels of 10, 100, 1000 mg/kg groups decreased significantly statistically after 28 days. T and InhB testis levels of 100, 1000 mg/kg groups were 8.05 +/- 2.19),(6.75 +/- 1.94) ng/mg pro and (39.32 +/- 5.55), (35.53 +/- 8.71) pg/mg pro respectively, which decreased significantly compared with control group (P < 0.05). Leydig cell and Sertoli cell were damaged according to histopathological examinations.

CONCLUSIONVinyl chloride has adverse effects on reproductive and endocrine system of male rats and may change their serum and testis homogenate levels of hormones.