Sex hormones and epididymal sperm parameters in rats following sub-chronic treatment with hexavalent chromium.

Testicular atrophy and reduced epididymal sperm count are known to occur after i.p. administration of high doses of hexavalent chromium to rats. The effect of 0.5 mg kg-1 hexavalent chromium injected i.p. 5 d a week for 8 weeks was investigated in male Wistar rats. A significant reduction in epididymal sperm motility was found at the end of the exposure period. The reduction was reversed after an unexposed period of a further 8 weeks. In addition, a decrease in serum testosterone and an increase in FSH were found at the end of the exposure period. The results indicate that a number of mechanisms may be involved in the deleterious effects of chromate on male fecundity.