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EFFECTS OF TRICHLOROETHYLENE EXPOSURE ON MALE REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION IN RATS
Citation:
Zenick, H., K. Blackburn, E. Hope, N. Richdale, AND M. Smith. EFFECTS OF TRICHLOROETHYLENE EXPOSURE ON MALE REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION IN RATS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-84/092.
Description:
The present study was designed to evaluate the influences of trichloroethylene (TCE) on the reproductive system of male rats. In addition, information was obtained on the distribution and metabolism of TCE. At 100 days of age, male rats were allowed to copulate with ovariectomized, hormonally primed females and copulatory behaviors scored. Fifteen minutes post-ejaculation, females were sacrificed and ejaculate and semen plug recovered from the uterus and vagina for evaluation. These data served as a pre-exposure baseline for each animal. TCE exposure was then initiated with animals intubated with either 0, 10, 100, or 1000 mg/kg of TCE (10 males/group) for 5 days/week for 6 weeks. Copulatory behaviors and semen evaluations were conducted at Weeks 1 and 5 as well as 4 weeks post-exposure. Three males/group were sacrificed at the end of the sixth week of exposure and levels of TCE and its metabolites measured in various organs and blood.