title: Toxic effect of mercury on testes in different animal species.
abstract: Testicular changes following the administration of mercuric chloride, (HgCl2, ip in various dosages) over one month were studied in rats, mice, guinea pigs and hamsters. HgCl2 (5 mg/kg) caused a testicular degeneration and cellular deformation was observed in both the seminiferous tubules and the Leydig cells in all species: a significant decrease of testicular weight also resulted. There was no cellular deformation at the dose of 2 mg/kg: only spermatogenic inhibition and Leydig cell atrophy were observed in the animals. At the dose of 1 mg/kg, testicular degeneration was observed only in the hamster, only partial degeneration was recorded in the rat and the mouse and no change was noted in the guinea pig.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D008628:Mercury / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D008628:Mercury