SPECIES-DIFFERENCE IN 1,3-DINITROBENZENE TESTICULAR TOXICITY - IN-VITRO CORRELATION WITH GLUTATHIONE STATUS

It has been previously shown that Id-dinitrobenzene (DNB) causes testi cular damage to the rat but not the hamster. The present study of DNB' s mechanism of toxic action has exploited this species difference in s usceptibility. Seminiferous tubules were isolated from Golden Syrian h amsters and incubated with 100 mu M DNB or vehicle for 22 h. (A simila r study with rat tubules has been published.) Formation of DNB metabol ites were monitored over time; hamster tubules had a greater capacity than rat tubules for reductively metabolizing (activating) DNB. Howeve r, hamster tubules did not show the marked DNB-induced ATP depletion s een in rat tubules. Levels of mitochondrial glutathione and activities of enzymes that protect against oxidative stress were measured in bot h rat and hamster tubules. The observed differences in the capacity fo r detoxification of oxidants may underlie the difference in susceptibi lity to DNB-induced testicular toxicity between these species. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science Inc.