© 1986 Oxford University Press
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Measurement of Semen Quality, Fertility, and Reproductive Hormones to Assess Dibromochioropropane (DBCP) Effects in Live Rabbits
Department of Animal Science, Cornell University Ithaca, New York 14853
Measurement of Semen Quality, Fertility, and Reproductive Hormones to Assess Dibromochloropropane (DBCP) Effects in Live Rabbits. FOOTE, R. H., SCHERMERHORN, E. C., AND SIMKIN, M. E. (1986). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 6, 628–637. Thirty-six sexually mature Dutch rabbits were divided into six equal groups to receive in the drinking water 5 days/week for 10 weeks 0, 0.94, 1.88. 3.75, 7.50, and 15.00 mg of DBCP/kg body wt. General health, body weight, semen quality (four ejaculates per male per week), and libido were measured throughout. Fertility, blood follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone were mea sured the last week and cauda epididymal sperm were examined at sacrifice. There was no effect of DBCP on general health or body weight. There was considerable variation in ejaculate volume, percentage motile sperm, and sperm concentration per milliliter within groups and among weeks. However, between the first 2 weeks and the last 2 weeks of the experiment sperm output had increased by 19% in the three lower DBCP groups and decreased by 16% in the three higher DBCP groups (p < 0.01). The proportion of sperm with abnormal tails also increased as DBCP dosage increased. Fertility was unaffected. FSH was elevated (p < 0.01) in the group receiving 15 mg/kg of DBCP, which is consistent with the impairment of spermatogenesis. Libido, LH, and testosterone levels were not affected. Sperm morpholgy was the most sensitive indicator of a DBCP effect in the live animal, being affected at a daily oral intake 1.88 mg DBCP/kg body wt.