Spermatotoxicity associated with acute and subchronic ethoxyethanol treatment

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8457225· OSTI ID:5829713

Zenick, H; Oudiz, D; Niewenhuis, R J

Investigations of the male reproductive toxicity of ethoxyethanol (ethylene glycol monoethyl ether) have been restricted exclusively to histopathological assessments of the testes. The present study consisted of two experiments designed to document the spermatotoxicity of ethoxyethanol (EE) as reflected in evaluations of ejaculated rat semen. The basic strategy involved the evaluation of individual ejaculates recovered from the genital tract of a female rat prior to exposure of the males to EE. Repeated assessments of the ejaculate were made during the experimental phase according to specified protocols. Adult Long-Evans hooded male rats received 0, 936, 1872 or 2808 mg/kg (PO) of EE for five consecutive days. Semen evaluations were then conducted at weeks 0, 1, 4, 7, 10 and 14 after exposure. Males in the highest two dose groups showed declines in sperm counts by week 4 and were essentially azoospermic by week 7. At this time, males receiving the lowest dose of EE also exhibited decreases in ejaculated sperm counts. An increase in abnormal sperm shapes was also observed. Over the ensuing weeks all males exhibited varying degrees of recovery as reflected by increasing ejaculated sperm counts. In a second experiment, males were treated with 0 or 936 mg/kg of EE daily ( 5 days/week) for 6 weeks with semen evaluations conducted weekly. By week 5, sperm counts were significantly depressed and there was an increase in the number of abnormal shapes. Sperm motility was depressed by week 6. The temporal trends seen in these experiments suggested a differential sensitivity of the spermatocyte stage to EE toxicity. Histopathological assessments confirmed this observation while distinguishing the pachytene spermatocytes as the most sensitive cells. 7 references, 6 figures, 4 tables.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Cincinnati, OH
• OSTI ID: 5829713
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States) Vol. 57; ISSN EVHPA
• 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.
ALCOHOLS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ETHERS
ETHYL ETHER
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
GLYCOLS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RATS
RECOVERY
RODENTS
SENSITIVITY
SPERMATOCYTES
SPERMATOZOA
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES