Cytotoxic effects of benzene on mouse germ cells determined by flow cytometry.
Flow cytometric (FCM) DNA content measurements were performed on testicular monocellular suspensions obtained from mice exposed per os to 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7 ml/kg body weight of benzene in order to investigate its cytotoxic action on germ cells. The effects of benzene were measured 7, 14, 21, 28, and 70 d after treatment. Benzene had no effect on testis weight, but FCM analysis showed the relative percentages of some cell subpopulations (tetraploid and haploid cells) to be different from the control pattern, indicating the occurrence of some cytotoxic damage to differentiating spermatogonia. These data demonstrate that spermatogenesis is sensitive to benzene single exposures as evidenced by an altered cell ratio of testicular cell types.
Spanò
M
M
Division of Physics and Biomedical Sciences, ENEA, Casaccia, Rome, Italy.
Pacchierotti
F
F
Uccelli
R
R
Amendola
R
R
Bartoleschi
C
C
D000818:Animals; D001554:Benzene / Q000633:toxicity*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D004247:DNA; D001554:Benzene