title: Effects of α-zearalanol on spermatogenesis and sex hormone levels of male mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the mechanisms of α-zearalanol (Zeranol)-induced male reproductive toxicity, the effects of Zeranol on spermatogenesis and sex hormone levels of male mice were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty healthy sexually mature male Kunming mice were randomly divided into four groups. The mice were mock-treated or treated with Zeranol 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg via oral gavage for 35 days. The epididymal sperms were counted and their morphology and motility were analyzed. The testicles were examined by light and electron microscopy. The levels of serum/testicular testosterone (T), serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and serum luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined by radioimmunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Zeranol decreased the epididymal sperm count and sperm motility in a dose depend manner. While there were not significant differences in the sperm malformation rates between the Zeranol treated groups and the control group. Furthermore, Zeranol could decrease the weight and the organ coefficient of the seminal vesicles and the testicles and lead to significant pathological changes of the testicles. Zeranol could also decrease the levels of serum T, FSH, LH as well as the levels of testicular T of male mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Zeranol induced reproductive toxicity in adult male mice. It could damage spermatogenesis via its direct effects on the testicles and interfere with sex hormone levels of male mice through its effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis.
authors.affiliation: Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences Jinan, Shandong Province, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Cunxiang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences Jinan, Shandong Province, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences Jinan, Shandong Province, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences Jinan, Shandong Province, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zhifeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences Jinan, Shandong Province, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Linlin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sai
authors.affiliation: Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences Jinan, Shandong Province, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences Jinan, Shandong Province, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zhongjun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences Jinan, Shandong Province, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Gongchang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences Jinan, Shandong Province, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences Jinan, Shandong Province, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zhenling
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: mice; sex hormone; spermatogenesis; testicle; α-zearalanol