[Effect of vinyl chloride on reproductive and endocrine system of male rats].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of vinyl chloride on reproductive and endocrine system of male rats.


METHODS
Male SD rats were administered with vinyl chloride at dose of (0, 10, 100, 1000 mg/kg) for 14 and 28 days, respectively. The levels of testosterone (T), inhibin B, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) were measured in serum and testis homogenates. Histopathological examinations were performed for testis with electron microscopy.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group after 14-day exposure, T and E2 serum levels of 1000, 100, 10 mg/kg groups decreased, InhB and LH levels of three dose groups increased. LH serum levels of 100 mg/kg increased significantly statistically compared with control group (P < 0.05). After 28-day exposure, T serum levels of 100, 1000 mg/kg groups were (10.90 +/- 1.56), (8.52 +/- 2.85) ng/ml respectively (P < 0.05), InhB serum levels of 100, 1000 mg/kg groups were (31.40 +/- 6.21), (28.39 +/- 5.67) pg/ml respectively. Both of T and InhB serum levels of 100, 1000 mg/kg groups decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Serum FSH levels of 10, 100, 1000 mg/kg groups decreased significantly compared with control group (P < 0.05). Compared with groups of 14-day exposure, serum InhB and LH levels of 10, 100, 1000 mg/kg groups decreased significantly statistically after 28 days. T and InhB testis levels of 100, 1000 mg/kg groups were 8.05 +/- 2.19),(6.75 +/- 1.94) ng/mg pro and (39.32 +/- 5.55), (35.53 +/- 8.71) pg/mg pro respectively, which decreased significantly compared with control group (P < 0.05). Leydig cell and Sertoli cell were damaged according to histopathological examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
Vinyl chloride has adverse effects on reproductive and endocrine system of male rats and may change their serum and testis homogenate levels of hormones.
Zhejing Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China.
Xiao-xiao
XX
Wang
Jing-wei
JW
Xiao
Hui-lin
HL
Meng
Tao
T
Cui
Kai-long
KL
Niu
Bin
B
Li
D000818:Animals; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D014752:Vinyl Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*
D013739:Testosterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D014752:Vinyl Chloride