Effects of mercuric chloride on the reproductive cycle of the female hamster
Cyclic female hamsters, given 1 mg of mercuric chloride per day on each day of the 4-day cycle, demonstrated alterations in histology of the reproductive tract, progesterone levels, and cyclicity. The ovaries of mercury-treated animals showed retarded follicular development and morphologically prolonged corpora lutea. Contrary to day 3 and day 4 controls, mercury-treated animals had no uterine hypertrophy. PMS, (50 IU), given daily to mercury-treated animals for 4 days, restored follicular development; the animals ovulated on day 1 of the following cycle. Plasma progesterone levels, determined by the competitive protein binding method, in mercury-treated animals were significantly lower on day 2 of the first cycle and day 1 of the second cycle. Treated animals also exhibited significantly different progesterone values for corpora lutea on days 2-4. Interstitial progesterone in treated animals was unchanged. These progesterone assays suggest that the corpus luteum is more sensitive to the direct or indirect effects of mercuric chloride than the interstitium. In order to study the role of renal damage, caused by HgCl/sub 2/, in altering the reproductive cycle, another nephrotoxin, uranyl nitrate, was administered in a regimen similar to that of the mercury-treated group; the cycle was normal. Also, nephrectomy failed to cause changes in the reproductive cycle. N-Acetyl-DL-penicillamine, a chelating agent, counteracted the effects of HgCl/sub 2/ on the reproductive cycle. This study suggests that mercury affects the cycle at the hypothalamic or hypophyseal level of gonadotropin synthesis or release.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Cincinnati Coll. of Medicine, OH
- OSTI ID:
- 6265652
- Journal Information:
- Biol. Reprod.; (United States), Vol. 8
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
HAMSTERS
REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS
MERCURY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
MERCURY CHLORIDES
ANIMALS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ELEMENTS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
METALS
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)