LONG-TERM EXPOSURE OF MALE AND FEMALE MICE TO TRIVALENT AND HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS - EFFECT ON FERTILITY

Sexually mature male and female mice at 50 days of age were exposed to trivalent (Chromium chloride) or hexavalent (potassium dichromate) ch romium compounds in drinking water for 12 weeks. The effects of the di rect chromium exposure on fertility was assessed at day 140 of age. Fe rtility was significantly reduced in males exposed to the trivalent ch romium compound. The number of implantation sites and the number of vi able fetuses was significantly reduced in females impregnated by males exposed to the hexavalent chromium compound. The number of resorption s and dead fetuses was increased in females impregnated by males expos ed to trivalent and hexavalent chromium compounds. The exposure of fem ale mice to trivalent and hexavalent chromium compounds significantly reduced the number of implantation sites and the number of viable fetu ses. The number of females with resorptions was significantly increase d in hexavalent chromium exposed females. The number of resorptions wa s increased in trivalent and hexavalent exposed females. Body, seminal vesicles and preputial gland weights were significantly reduced in ma les exposed to trivalent and hexavalent chromium, whereas testes weigh t was significantly increased in males exposed to these compounds. Fur thermore, ovarian weight was significantly increased in females expose d to trivalent and hexavalent chromium, whereas uterine weight was sig nificantly decreased in trivalent chromium exposed females. In conclus ion, the ingestion of trivalent and hexavalent chromium compounds by a dult male and female mice would cause adverse effects on fertility and reproduction. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.