Reproductive and thyroid effects of low-level polychlorinated biphenyl (Aroclor 1254) exposure
The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of subchronic administration of Aroclor 1254 on testicular gamete production and endocrine function. The thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4), which is critical for reproduction and development, was also measured because of the well-documented effects of PCBs on this hormone. Weanling (31-day-old) male Fischer rats were administered 0, 0.1, 1, 10, or 25 mg/kg/day Aroclor 1254 by gavage for 5, 10, or 15 weeks and necropsied. In the high-dose group, body, seminal vesicle, cauda epididymal, and pituitary weights were depressed at 10 and 15 weeks and cauda epididymal sperm numbers were reduced after 15 weeks of dosing. In contrast, testes weights, testicular sperm numbers, sperm motility, and serum and testicular testosterone levels were unaffected, even in the highest dose group (25 mg/kg/day). Aroclor 1254 administration produced histological alterations in the liver and kidney at doses of 1.0 mg/kg/day and above. These results indicate that the testis of the rat is not a specific target organ for Aroclor 1254.
- Research Organization:
- ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 5752524
- Report Number(s):
- PB-93-236347/XAB
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Pub. in Fundamental and Applied Toxicology, Vol. 20, No. 3, 288-294(Apr 1993). See also PB--90-146085
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGY
LIVER
RATS
REPRODUCTION
TESTES
TESTOSTERONE
THYROID HORMONES
THYROXINE
AMINO ACIDS
ANDROGENS
ANDROSTANES
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
GLANDS
GONADS
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
KETONES
MALE GENITALS
MAMMALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC IODINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PROTEINS
RODENTS
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology