Reproductive tract lesions resulting from subchronic administration (63 days) of tri-o-cresyl phosphate in male rats.
Published
Journal Article
An initial dose-range pilot study where animals were gavaged with between 100 and 1600 mg tri-o-cresyl phosphate (TOCP)/kg/day for 14 days resulted in decreased epididymal sperm density and disruption of the seminiferous epithelium in 100% of treated animals. A subchronic 63-day study (reflecting the 49-day length of the rat seminiferous epithelium cycle plus the 14-day transit time of spermatids through the epididymis was initiated. Dose-dependent (10 to 100 mg TOCP/kg/day) decreases in cauda epididymal sperm motility and density, testicular enzyme activities, and alterations in sperm morphology were observed. Concurrent pair-fed controls (matched to the highest dose group, 100 mg TOCP/kg/day) indicated that weight loss resulting from TOCP administration had minimal contributory effects to the testicular toxicity seen. Plasma alpha-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) and testosterone concentrations were unaffected. Tri-p-cresyl phosphate (TPCP), the nonneurotoxic structural analog of TOCP, produced no toxic effects, demonstrating the necessity of the ortho-cresol moiety for induction of damage. A minimum effective (threshold) dose for observable testicular toxicity was determined to be 10-25 mg TOCP/kg in this study. These data suggest that TOCP interferes with spermatogenic processes and sperm motility directly and not via an androgenic mechanism or decreased vitamin E availability.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Somkuti, SG; Lapadula, DM; Chapin, RE; Lamb, JC; Abou-Donia, MB
Published Date
- June 15, 1987
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 89 / 1
Start / End Page
- 49 - 63
PubMed ID
- 3590188
Pubmed Central ID
- 3590188
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0041-008X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/0041-008x(87)90175-x
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States