title: Acrylonitrile interaction with testicular DNA in rats.
abstract: In the present study we report the in vivo interaction of acrylonitrile (VCN) with testicular tissue in rats. Covalent binding of radioactivity to testicular tissue DNA was examined for a period of 72 hr after a single oral dose (46.5 mg/kg) of [2,3-14C] VCN. Maximal covalent binding was observed at 0.5 hr (8.9 mumol VCN equivalent/mol nucleotide). Binding decreased gradually thereafter but was still detected (2.5 mumol VCN equivalent/mol nucleotide) at 72 hr following VCN administration. Further, we examined the effects of VCN on DNA synthesis and repair in the testes of rats following a single oral dose (46.5 mg/kg) of VCN to clarify the impact of the covalent binding observed on the testicular genetic material. A significant decrease in DNA synthesis (80% of control) was observed at 0.5 hr after treatment. At 24 hr following acrylonitrile administration, testicular DNA synthesis was severely inhibited (38% of control). Testicular DNA repair was increased 1.5-fold at 0.5 hr and more than 3.3-fold at 24 hr following treatment with VCN. These results suggest that VCN can act as a multipotent genotoxic agent by alkylating DNA in testicular tissue and may affect the male reproductive function by interfering with testicular DNA synthesis and repair processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: S Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Abdel-Rahman
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nour-al Deen
mesh_terms: D000181:Acrylonitrile / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D000181:Acrylonitrile