Abstract
Although male infertility is well researched, the effects of inorganic mercury on male reproduction and fertility are less well known. Studies pertaining to mercury and male fertility identified reduced concentration of testosterone in the serum of male workers, a toxic influence on fertility of organic mercury compounds within concentrations at the workplace, and increased days to pregnancy. We evaluated the effect of chronic mercuric chloride (HgCl2) exposure in male rats on reproductive endpoints. Thirty-day old male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 31) were exposed to 0.0, 1.0, or 2.0 mg/kg/day of HgCl2 via gavage. After 60 days exposure, they were housed with nonexposed females for 21 days. A survivor analysis revealed the exposed animals took longer to impregnate the females and had a lower rate of impregnation. Further statistical analysis revealed a lower correlation between testicular testosterone levels and days to impregnate, and also lower sperm counts in the epididymis head and body of the exposed males. The results indicate that HgCl2 exposure had significant adverse effects on male rat reproduction endpoints including fertility at a dose that was not clinically toxic.
Highlights
Male infertility is well documented as a result of exposure to numerous toxicants, the effects of inorganic mercury on male reproduction and fertility are less well known
Two studies found effects by establishing the toxic influence on fertility of organic mercury compounds within concentrations that can be seen at the workplace [3] and reduced concentration of testosterone in the serum of male workers, considered to be associated with exposure to inorganic mercury [4]
In Atkinson et al [10], the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was obtained from prior studies [16, 17] and the National Toxicology Program Technical report [18]. Based on these data concentrations of 1.0 mg/kg/day and 2.0 mg/kg/day were used in our study on female rats [15], the higher dose being the highest dose we found that did not show a manifestation of physical signs of mercuric chloride exposure
Summary
Male infertility is well documented as a result of exposure to numerous toxicants, the effects of inorganic mercury on male reproduction and fertility are less well known. A 2008 study on the outcome of various heavy metals in relation to semen quality reported data on human nonoccupational exposure to mercury (Hg), and its reproductive outcomes are very sparse [1]. Two studies found effects by establishing the toxic influence on fertility of organic mercury compounds within concentrations that can be seen at the workplace [3] and reduced concentration of testosterone in the serum of male workers, considered to be associated with exposure to inorganic mercury [4]. The third study, looking directly at mercury exposure, found no effects on male fertility; the authors relied on the memory of both workers and spouses to obtain data [5]. An additional study found no effects on fertility when workers chronically exposed to mercury vapor were assessed by questionnaire [3]
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