Application of the in vitro embryo culture to the study of the mutagenic effects of nickel in male germ cells.
In vitro embryo cultures were utilized to determine the mechanism of preimplantation loss of embryos derived from matings 3 and 4 weeks after treatment of male Balb/c mice with 56 mg/kg nickel nitrate. Treated and control males were allowed to mate with superovulated females weekly for 5 weeks following treatment, and the number of cleaved eggs as well as development of embryos to blastocysts and implantation were determined. Controls included also males treated with a dose of 40 mg/kg nickel nitrate which previously had been shown to be ineffective in the dominant lethal test. Fertilizing capacity of the spermatozoa as well as development of the cultured embryos were not influenced by a dose of 40 mg/kg nickel nitrate. A dose of 56 mg/kg significantly reduced, the fertilization rate 3 and 4 weeks after treatment but did not affect development of 2-cell embryos. These results demonstrate that the preimplantation loss induced by nickel treatment of males is due to toxic effect on spermatids and spermatogonia and not to a clastogenic action.
D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009153:Mutagens; D009532:Nickel / Q000633:toxicity*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*
D009153:Mutagens; D009532:Nickel