EFFECTS OF MERCURIC CHLORIDE ON MALE REPRODUCTION

这个子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和调查员(PI)可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可能会出现在其他CRISE条目中。列出的机构是针对中心的，而不一定是针对调查员的机构。本研究的目的是确定氯化汞(MC)处理对精子功能(数量、活力、形态)的影响，并确定MC导致的生育力下降是由于对男性、女性还是两者都有不利影响。雄性和雌性大鼠每日给予MC 2.5 mg/kg或去离子水(对照组)，雄性从1-90日龄或雌性从1-111日龄(额外哺乳20天)开始。结果显示，氯化汞暴露可导致1)睾丸、附睾和前列腺重量减轻；2)睾丸和附睾精子数减少；3)精液中精子异常发生率增加；4)活动率和进行性前向运动精子百分率降低；5)17β雌二醇浓度降低，但对血清睾酮和黄体生成素水平无影响；6)生育指数下降近20%。生育指数的下降可能是由于汞对精子参数的毒性作用，尽管每个精子参数(例如，数量、形态或活力)在降低男性生育力方面的相对贡献仍有待确定。同样，接触氯化汞会降低女性的生育指数。但是，与男性相比，生育力的下降要高得多(男性下降近40%，男性下降20%)，尽管卵巢和子宫的重量没有任何减轻。因此，这些结果表明，接触氯化汞对女性生育能力有更高的毒性作用。总而言之，这些结果为汞对男性生殖器官和生育力以及女性生育力的毒性影响提供了证据，但生育率降低的机制尚不清楚。

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 determine effects of mercuric chloride (MC) treatment on sperm functions (number, motility, morphology), and to determine whether the MC-induced lower fertility resulted from adverse effects on males, females, or both. Both male and female rats were treated with MC at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg or de-ionized water (controls) daily, from 1-90 days of age in the case of males or from 1-111 days of age in the case of females (20 additional days of lactation). Results revealed that mercuric chloride exposure resulted in i) reduced weight of the testis, epididymis, and prostate; ii) reduced number of sperm in the testis and epididymis; iii) increased incidence of abnormal sperm in semen; iv) reduced percentage of motile sperm and progressively forward moving sperm; v) lower concentration of 17 beta estradiol, but without any alteration in serum testosterone or LH level; and vi) decreased fertility index by almost 20%. The reduction in fertility index probably resulted from toxic effects of mercury on sperm parameters, although the relative contribution of each sperm parameter (for example, number, morphology, or motility) in lowering male fertility remains to be determined. Similarly, mercuric chloride exposure lowered fertility index in females. But, compared to males, the reduction in fertility was much higher (reduced by almost 40% vs 20% in males), despite without any reduction in the weight of the ovary and uterus. Hence, these results suggest a higher toxic effect of mercuric chloride exposure on female fertility. In conclusion, results provide evidence for toxic effects of mercury on reproductive organs and fertility in males and on fertility in females, but the mechanism of lower fertility remains unclear.