ASSESSMENT OF AGGRESSION, SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR AND FERTILITY IN ADULT MALE-RAT FOLLOWING LONG-TERM INGESTION OF 4 INDUSTRIAL-METALS SALTS

1 The effect of long-term ingestion of the industrial metals salts, ma nganese sulfate, aluminum chloride, lead acetate and copper chloride w as investigated on aggression, sexual behavior and fertility in male r at. Adult male rats ingested solutions of these salts along with drink ing water at a concentration of 1000 p.p.m. for 12 weeks. 2 Male rat s exual behavior was suppressed after the ingestion of manganese sulfate , aluminum chloride, lead acetate and copper chloride. The ingestion o f solutions of these salts markedly prolonged the intromission and eja culation latencies. Aluminum chloride and copper chloride reduced the copulatory efficiency. 3 Male rat aggression was also abolished after the ingestion of manganese sulfate, aluminum chloride, lead acetate an d copper chloride. The ingestion of solutions of these salts markedly suppressed lateralizations, boxing bouts, fight with stud male and ven tral presenting postures. 4 Fertility was reduced in male rats ingeste d with lead acetate. The total number of resorptions was increased in female rats impregnated by males ingested with manganese sulfate and l ead acetate. 5 Body, absolute or relative testes, seminal vesicles wei ghts were dropped in adult male rats ingested with manganese sulfate, aluminum chloride, lead acetate and copper chloride. However, the abso lute or relative preputial gland weights were not affected. Collective ly, these results suggest that the long-term ingestion of manganese su lfate, aluminum chloride, lead acetate and copper chloride would have adverse effects on sexual behavior, territorial aggression, fertility and the reproductive system of the adult male rat.