title: Effect of mercuric chloride on testicular activities in mice, Musculus albinus.
abstract: Impaired testicular function was observed after an exposure of Swiss albino mice (30 +/- 2 g) to mercuric chloride. A sublethal chronic exposure (0.5 ppm for 21 days) resulted in regressed histological and histochemical properties of the testis. The changes observed were degenerated tunica albuginea, abnormal configurations of seminiferous tubules, deformed primary and secondary spermatocytes, hypertrophy and vacuolization in interstitial cells and Sertoli cells. The 3 beta and 17 beta hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase enzyme and the level of testosterone hormone were significantly (p < 0.001) reduced. The diameter of different spermatogenic cells were significantly (p < 0.001) reduced.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Physiology Unit, School of Studies in Zoology, Vikram University, Ujjain-456 010, India.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Nagar
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
mesh_terms: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000187:drug effects; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants; D013739:Testosterone; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases