COLLABORATIVE WORK TO DETERMINE THE OPTIMAL ADMINISTRATION PERIOD AND PARAMETERS TO DETECT DRUG EFFECTS ON MALE RAT FERTILITY : STUDY ON ESTRADIOL BENZOATE EFFECTS (<SPECIAL ISSUE>TESTICULAR TOXICITY)

概要

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In order to examine the optimal administration period and parameters for male fertility assessment, male rats were subcutaneously administered 0.2, 2 or 20 μg/kg of estradiol benzoate (E_2B), a known testicular toxicant, for 4 weeks or 9 weeks before mating. After 4 weeks administration, suppression of body weight gain and food consumption, decreases in prostate and seminal vesicle weights, atrophy of Leydig cells, and mature spermatid retention at stages IX, X and XI were observed in the 2 and 20 μg/kg groups. In the 20 μg/kg group, decreases in epididymides weight and copulation index were also found but the number of sperm and sperm motility were not affected. In the 0.2 μg/kg group, no changes were noted in any parameters. After 9 weeks administration, decreases in testis weight and the number and motility of sperm were observed in the 20 μg/kg group, in addition to the changes found after 4 weeks administration. These results suggest that detailed histopathological evaluation and determination of accessory sex organ weights are sensitive for evaluating the effects of E_2B on male fertility. Results with the 4-weeks treatment were comparable to those with the 9-weeks treatment in terms of these parameters.
日本トキシコロジー学会の論文