title: Testicular toxicity evaluation of two antimony compounds, antimony trioxide and antimony potassium tartrate, in rats and mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Testicular toxicities of antimony compounds were evaluated in rats and mice. The slightly water-soluble antimony compound antimony trioxide (ATO) and the highly water-soluble antimony compound antimony potassium tartrate (APT) were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Daily doses of the compounds were 27.4, 12.0 and 1,200 mg/kg body weight in the APT group, low-ATO group and high-ATO group, respectively. The corresponding daily doses of antimony were 10, 10 and 1,000 mg/kg body weight, in the APT group, low-ATO group and high-ATO group, respectively. Both compounds were administered by gavage: rats, 3 days per week for 4 weeks; mice, 5 days per week for 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither compound reduced the weights of reproductive organs or accessory sex organs nor affected sperm parameters. Few marked histopathologic changes were found in the testes of the treated animals. Even at 1,200 mg/kg body weight, which is greater than the LD(50) of APT, ATO produced no effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, it was found that ATO and APT are not toxic to testes in rodents.
authors: Department of Hygiene, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 812-8582, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Minoru
authors: M
authors: Omura
authors: Akiyo
authors: A
authors: Tanaka
authors: Miyuki
authors: M
authors: Hirata
authors: Naohide
authors: N
authors: Inoue