Evaluation of Reproductive Parameters in Adult Male Wistar Rats After Subchronic Exposure (Gavage) to Benomyl

摘要

Proven-breeder 102-d-old male Wistar rats were gavaged daily with 0, 1, 5, 15, or 45 mg/kg/d benomyl. The animals were bred to untreated females after 62 d and killed after 76-79 d for evaluation of selected male reproductive end points. Minimal to moderate changes were observed in rats dosed with 45 mg/kg/d; these included decreased testis and epididymis weight, reduced cauda sperm reserves, decreased sperm production, increased numbers of decapitated spermatozoa, and increased numbers of seminiferous tubules containing multinucleated giant cells. Reproductive performance, seminal vesicle and prostate weight, sperm motility, serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and androgen binding protein were not affected by any of the dosages tested. Based on these end points, the no-effect level was 15 mg/kg/d. (Copyright 1988 by Hemisphere Publishing Corp.)