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ACUTE SPERMATOGENIC EFFECTS OF BROMOACETIC ACIDS
Citation:
Linder, R., G. Klinefelter, L. Strader, J. Suarez, AND C. Dyer. ACUTE SPERMATOGENIC EFFECTS OF BROMOACETIC ACIDS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-95/038.
Description:
Chlorine and bromine, when present, can react with natural organic substances in source waters to form haloacetic acids, major by-products of chlorine disinfection. everal toxic effects including testicular damage have been attributed to chloroacetic acids but little information is available on the bromine analogues. n this report we present the results of acute toxicity and acute spermatotoxicity studies of monobromacetic acid (MBAA) and dibromoacetic acid (DBAA). n adult male rats acute oral toxicity of MBAA was 10-fold that of DBAA (LD50 177 vs 1737 mg/kg). eproductive parameters were affected only in animals dosed with DBAA. erum testosterone fell to 17% of control 2 days after a single dose of 1250mg DBAA/kg but returned to control levels by day 14. arked effects on sperm motion occurred on posttreatment days 14 and 28. egenerative flagellar changes in cauda sperm were present on day 14 while abnormal sperm head shapes were observed in both caput and cauda sperm by day 28. istopathology indicated altered spermiation at all timepoints as evidenced by retention of Step 19 spermatids in Stages beyond Stage VIII. isorganization, distortion, and degeneration of late spermatids were also observed. on day 14 unidentified structures resembling atypical residual bodies were seen rarely in the testis but were numerous in the epididymis. aput sperm counts were decreased on day 2 and cauda sperm counts were decreased on days 14 and 28. he data indicate that DBAA is an effective spermatotoxicant in the rat with late and elongating spermatids being particularly susceptible germinal cells.