Observations on the effects of alpha-chlorhydrin on the testes and pituitary gonadotrophs of gerbil (Meriones hurrianae) and rat.

(1) Lower doses of alpha-chlorhydrin caused high selectivity of lesions in the seminiferous tubule of rat and gerbil. (2) The seminiferous epithelium became systematically depleted of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids and finally spermatozoa in this sequence. (3) The suppression of RNA concentration in the testes and seminal vesicle is conspicuous. (4) The growth of androgen-dependent organs, i.e. seminal vesicles, ventral prostate, epididymes and perineal complex, is suppressed. (5) These effects are reversible. Repopulation of testis tubules occurs followed by a 40-day recovery period in rat and gerbil. (6) alpha-Chlorhydrin administration brings about hypertrophy of pituitary gonadotrophs which is also reflected in the increased basophilic cell percentage (control: 15.5% alpha-chlorhydrin: 21.5%; p less than 0.01).