Reproductive toxicity of 2,4-dinitrotoluene in the rat.
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the chemosterilant 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) on the rat testis. Adult male rats were fed control, or 0.1%, or 0.2% DNT for 3 weeks. An ultrastructural study of the testes was performed, serum was assayed for testosterone and gonadotropins, and sperm reserve count was determined. A marked change in Sertoli cell morphology was found after 3 weeks of 0.2% DNT exposure. Varying sized vesicles associated with swollen mitochondria and distended endoplasmic reticulum were visible in cells from DNT-treated animals. Circulating levels of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone were increased in 0.2% DNT-treated animals. Reduced weights of the epididymides and decreased epididymal sperm reserves were observed in DNT-treated animals. These results indicate that DNT is capable of inducing testicular injury, of directly or indirectly disturbing pituitary function, and of exerting a toxic effect at the late stages of spermatogenesis. These findings suggest that a locus of DNT action is the Sertoli cell, resulting in both inhibition of spermatogenesis and changes in testicular-pituitary endocrine activity.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009578:Nitrobenzenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013076:Sperm Count; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D009578:Nitrobenzenes; C016403:2,4-dinitrotoluene; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone