Medical College of Nankai University, Tianjin, China, 300071.
Toxicol Mech Methods. 2008;18(5):399-403. doi: 10.1080/15376510701533921.
ABSTRACT Background: Previous studies have reported that chlorotoluron has adverse effects on male mice. Few studies, however, have investigated the mechanism of action of these herbicides. The effects of chlorotoluron and atrazine ingestion on male mouse reproductive function during the peripubertal period are reported here.
A total of 16 experimental groups and one control group were used in this study. Each experimental group was treated with chlorotoluron or atrazine alone or in combination in different doses. After mice were sacrificed, superoxide dismutase activity in blood was measured, weight ratios of testis to body were calculated, and testis tissues were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy.
The decreased weight ratio of mouse testis to body weight resulted in a reduction in the relative testis weight. Experiments on SOD enzyme activity in vivo showed that the synergistic effect of the two compounds was more notable at higher concentrations. Histological analyses of testes of animals treated with herbicides showed that the epithelium of seminiferous tubules was loosely arrayed and lacked order, spermatogenic cells were shed, and fewer layers formed. By electron microscopy it was noted that mitochondria in the seminiferous epithelium appeared vacuolated; nuclei were enlarged and irregular. In addition, the number of Sertoli cells was reduced, and part of the tight junction was destroyed. The results demonstrated that these herbicides induced degeneration and severe pathological changes in a dose-dependent manner. The toxic effects of chlorotoluron were more potent than those of atrazine when each was administrated alone. Moreover, when administered in combination, the two compounds had synergistic toxic effects.
探讨绿麦隆和莠去津对雄性仔鼠生殖系统的联合毒性作用。
选用清洁级昆明种雄性仔鼠 16 只，随机分为 16 个实验组和 1 个对照组，每组 2 只。实验组仔鼠分别灌胃给予不同剂量的绿麦隆、莠去津单一染毒及二者联合染毒，对照组给予等容量蒸馏水。于末次染毒后 24 h 处死各组仔鼠，检测仔鼠血中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性，计算睾丸脏器系数，观察睾丸组织的光镜和透射电镜变化。
与对照组比较，各染毒组仔鼠睾丸脏器系数降低，SOD 活性降低，睾丸组织出现不同程度的病理损伤，其中以联合染毒组更为严重。
绿麦隆和莠去津对雄性仔鼠具有联合毒性作用，其毒性作用强于单一染毒。
