US EPA

It is important that evaluation procedures for chemicals incorporate measures suitable to detect a wide range of potential effects from those chemicals. he reproductive systems are among the most sensitive to toxic insult, so it is important that effective methods be developed and applied for detection of reproductive effects and protection of reproductive capability. s adequate data on the effects of human exposures are seldom available, it is necessary then to use data from other species. pecies used most frequently are rodents, rabbits, dogs and subhuman primates. nowledge gained from research with farm species is being applied in the design of improved protocols to detect health effects. ncluded are important contributions in developing new evaluation tests, improved experimental design and in furthering understanding of reproductive biology. his paper addresses several testing and risk assessment issues in male reproductive toxicology that form the basis for some of the authors research. ttention is focused on evaluating and improving the utility of fertility testing, quantification of sperm production rates and on experimental design factors that are important in improving reliability in detecting adverse effects.

Berndtson, W. AND E. Clegg. DEVELOPING IMPROVED STRATEGIES TO DETERMINE MALE REPRODUCTIVE RISK FROM ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-93/047 (NTIS PB93167286), 1992.

Theriogenology 38:223-237, 1992