AIMTo investigate the effect of arsenic on spermatogenesis.

METHODSMature (4 months old) Wistar rats were intraperitoneally administered sodium arsenite at doses of 4, 5 or 6 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) for 26 days. Different varieties of germ cells at stage VII seminiferous epithelium cycle, namely, type A spermatogonia (ASg), preleptotene spermatocytes (pLSc), midpachytene spermatocytes (mPSc) and step 7 spermatids (7Sd) were quantitatively evaluated, along with radioimmunoassay of plasma follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and assessment of the epididymal sperm count.

RESULTSIn the 5 and 6 mg/kg groups, there were significant dose-dependent decreases in the accessory sex organ weights, epididymal sperm count and plasma concentrations of LH, FSH and testosterone with massive degeneration of all the germ cells at stage VII. The changes were insignificant in the 4 mg/kg group.

CONCLUSIONArsenite has a suppressive influence on spermatogenesis and gonadotrophin and testosterone release in rats.

Animals ; Arsenites ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Body Weight ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sodium Compounds ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Sperm Count ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Testis ; chemistry ; cytology ; drug effects ; Testosterone ; blood