Abstract |
Exposure of prepubertal, pubertal, and adult mice to 0, 8, 16, 32, 40, or 48 mg 1,3-dinitrobenzene (m-DNB)/kg body weight and measuring responses 1-25 d posttreatment (dpt) demonstrated significant effects on testicular function only at 48 mg/kg dosage. m-DNB had no effect on body or testis weights with the exception of reduced adult mouse testis weights at 22 dpt with 48 mg/kg (p <.05). None of the exposures resulted in detectable levels of germinal epithelial cells in the ductus epididymis. Exposure of prepubertal and pubertal mice to m-DNB caused only minimal nonsignificant changes in the relative percent of testicular cell types present up to 25 dpt. The adult mice testicular cell type ratios, in particular the round and elongating spermatid populations, changed significantly at doses of 48 mg/kg. Also, a reduction in the percent tetraploid cells occurred at d 1, suggesting these cells may be a primary target of m-DNB action. Caput and caudal sperm from mice exposed to m-DNB prior to puberty did not demonstrate an increased susceptibility to DNA denaturation when analyzed by the sperm chromatin structure assay. |