Testicular alterations in rats due to gestational and early lactational administration of lead.
A solution of lead acetate (300 mg/L) was administered via drinking water to pregnant Wistar rats from day 1 of pregnancy to delivery (Pb-treated day 0 group) or throughout gestation and early lactation (from day 1 to day 5 postnatal) (Pb-treated day 5 group). When the pups were born, four dams and their offspring in each group (control day 0, Pb-treated day 0, control day 5, and Pb-treated day 5) were sacrificed on day 0 (day 0 groups) or on day 5 (day 5 groups). Relative testicular weight and gross testicular structure were not altered by the treatment. The seminiferous tubule diameter and the number of prospermatogonia were reduced by the treatment. Determination of the n-ploidy stage of prospermatogonia indicates that these cells have more proliferative activity in Pb-treated rats than in control rats. On the other hand, the total DNA, RNA, and protein content of the testes in treated rats was significantly reduced, but the DNA: RNA ratio remained unaltered.
Corpas
I
I
Department of Animal Biology II (Animal Physiology), University Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
Gaspar
I
I
Martínez
S
S
Codesal
J
J
Candelas
S
S
Antonio
M T
MT
D000818:Animals; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013737:Testis / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000187:drug effects*
D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D007854:Lead; C008261:lead acetate