Effects of ingestion of lead monoxide alloy on male mouse reproduction.

A lead alloy powder currently employed in Iraq in the manufacture of grids for storage battery electrodes was tested for effects on the reproduction of male mice. Two concentrations (25 and 50 mg/kg chow) were fed to males for 35 or 70 days starting at weaning. Some of the males were mated individually to two untreated females, whereas the testes of other males were processed for light microscopy. The results showed a significant increase in post-implantation losses of embryos in utero, and a significant decrease in litter size of surviving pregnancies. Light microscopic examination showed a general trend towards reduced spermatogenic activity.