Thallium-induced testicular toxicity in the rat

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(86)80128-1· OSTI ID:5002106

Formigli, L; Scelsi, R; Poggi, P; Gregotti, C; Di Nucci, A; Sabbioni, E; Gottardi, L; Manzo, L

Reproductive tract functions were studied in adult male Wistar rats given 10 ppm thallium as thallium sulfate in the drinking water. After 60 days of treatment, spermatozoa isolated from the cauda epididymides and vas deferens showed reduced motility and immature germ cells were found in the tubular lumen. Histological examination of testes in thallium-treated animals revealed disarrangement of the tubular epithelium and ultrastructural changes in the Sertoli cells with cytoplasmic vacuolation and distension of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The activity of testicular ..beta..-glucuronidase was significantly reduced whereas acid phosphatase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities were unchanged. Plasma testosterone levels were within normal limits. No abnormalities in testicular morphology and biochemistry were seen in animals sacrificed at the end of the first month of thallium exposure. These findings indicate that the male reproductive system is a susceptible target site to toxic effects of thallium under chronic exposure. They also suggest a major involvement of Sertoli cells in the mechanism underlying thallium-induced testicular damage.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Pavia Medical School, Italy
• OSTI ID: 5002106
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 40:2; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID PHOSPHATASE
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
BODY
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DATA
DRINKING WATER
ELEMENTS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
ESTERASES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FUNCTIONS
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
GLUCURONIDASE
GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
GONADS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLASES
INFORMATION
MALE GENITALS
MAMMALS
METALS
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NUMERICAL DATA
O-GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
ORGANS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHATASES
RATS
RODENTS
SPERMATOZOA
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TESTES
THALLIUM
THALLIUM COMPOUNDS
THALLIUM SULFATES
TOXICITY
ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES
VERTEBRATES
WATER