REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY OF ALUMINUM IN MALE-MICE

The reproductive toxicology of aluminum was studied in mice. Adult mal e mice were treated intraperitoneally with aluminum nitrate at doses o f 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks before mating with untreat ed females. Decreased body weight was seen in all aluminum-treated gro ups. Decreased pregnancy rate was observed in the females mated with m ales previously treated with 100 or 200 mg/kg/day of aluminum nitrate. High-dose male mice showed significantly decreased testicular and epi didymal weights, as well as significant decreases in testicular and sp ermatid counts and epididymal sperm counts. Spermatid counts were also reduced at 100 mg/kg/day. However, the sperm motility was unaffected, and the percentages of morphological normal spermatozoa in all mice e xposed to aluminum were comparable to the values in control mice. Hist ological changes, including necrosis of spermatocytes/spermatids, were observed in the testes of male mice treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg/da y of aluminum nitrate, whereas the tubular diameters were unaffected b y aluminum administration. The current study demonstrates adverse effe cts of parenteral aluminum exposure on the mouse male reproductive sys tem. The ''no observable adverse effect level'' (NOAEL) was 50 mg/kg/d ay. (C) 1995 Society of Toxicology,