EFFECTS OF MERCURIC CHLORIDE ON MALE REPRODUCTION

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中的一个 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得主要资金， 因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为 中心，不一定是研究者的机构。 本研究的目的是研究氯化汞（MC）摄入对雌性大鼠生育率的影响，包括（1）活胎数，（2）流产数和（3）黄体数。 对102日龄雌性大鼠给予2.5 mg/kg/天MC（给药组）或去离子水（对照组），持续60天。然后将其与70至80日龄未给药雄性（2只雌性对1只雄性）交配17天。通过体重增加证实妊娠。确认妊娠后，对所有雌性动物实施安乐死，并检查两侧的活胎、流产和黄体数量。 汞处理导致平均胎仔数（6.9 vs 12.4，对照组）和流产数（10.5 vs 12.8，对照组）降低;然而，仅在胎仔中降低显著（P <0.05）。相反，给药组和对照组之间的黄体数量无差异（14.9 vs 14.8）。 因此，据推测，汞引起的胎儿数量减少是在着床后阶段造成的;可能是由于子宫功能障碍，无法为胎儿的发育提供适当的环境，或者是由于汞对胎儿的直接攻击，或者两者兼而有之。 进一步假设汞摄入不会影响排卵，因为处理组和对照组之间的黄体数量（释放卵子数量的指标）没有差异。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The objective of this study was to investigate effects of mercuric chloride (MC) ingestion on the fertility rate of female rats including (1) the number of viable fetuses, (2) the number of implantations, and (3) the number of corpora lutea. Female rats, 102 days of age, were treated with 2.5 mg/kg/day of MC (treatment group) or de-ionized water (control group) for a period of 60 days. They were then mated with 70 to 80-day-old untreated males (2 females to 1 male) for 17 days. Pregnancy was confirmed by weight increase. Upon confirmation of pregnancy, all females were euthanized and examined for the number of viable fetuses, implantations, and corpora lutea in both sides. The mercury treatment resulted in lowering the mean number of fetuses (6.9 vs 12.4 in controls) and implantations (10.5 vs 12.8 in controls); however, the decrease was significant (P less than 0.05) only in the case of fetuses. Conversely, the number of corpora lutea was not different between the treated and control groups (14.9 vs 14.8 in controls). Hence, it is hypothesized that the mercury-induced reduction in the number of fetuses resulted at a post-implantation stage; probably from a malfunction of the uterus so that it could not provide a proper environment for the development of the fetus, or from a direct assault of mercury on the fetus, or both. It is further hypothesized that mercury ingestion did not affect ovulation since the number of corpora lutea (indicator for the number of ova released) was not different between the treated and control groups.