Effects of Methyl Mercury on Testicular Functions in Macaca fascicularis Monkeys

Abstract

These studies were performed to investigate the effects of MeHg on testicular function in Macaca fascicularis monkeys. In an in vivo study involving oral treatment of adult males Macaca fascicularis monkeys with MeHg for 20 weeks, changes in spermatozoal production, motility and morphology and in serum testosterone were followed before, during and after treatment. MeHg treatment significantly decreased % motile spermatozoa and scores for sperm speed and forward progression and increased % abnormal sperm tail forms, at sub-neurotoxic levels. The MeHg-induced increase in semen abnormalities was not accompanied by any significant changes in serum levels of testosterone. No consistent histological abnormalities were detected in testicular biopsies from the treated animals at the end of the treatment period. A good recovery pattern was observed for the MeHg effects on sperm motility while this was unclear for the effects on sperm morphology.

Modifications in Rat Testicular Morphology and Increases in IFN-γ Serum Levels by the Oral Administration of Subtoxic Doses of Mercuric Chloride

“…Changes include decreases in the diameter of seminiferous tubules, disorganization of the basal membrane and aspermatogenesis. These alterations were reported in different animal species [Chowdhury and Arora 1982], including fish [Friedmann et al 1996;Wester and Canton 1992], birds [McNeil and Bhatnagar 1985;Maretta et al 1995], mice [Lee and Dixon 1975;Orisakwe et al 2001], rats [Massanyi et al 2007;Homma-Takeda et al 2001] and monkeys [Mohamed et al 1987]. It is important to stress that although some data is available on the effects of inorganic mercury on fertility in experimental animals [Lee and Dixon 1975;Orisakwe et al 2001;Rao 1989] the majority of works have focused on organic mercury.…”

Adverse Effects of Low Level Heavy Metal Exposure on Male Reproductive Function

“…The number of rat epididymal sperm declined after incubation with inorganic mercury and a dose-dependent decrease in motility was also noted [Rao and Gangadharan 2008]. Monkeys administered methyl mercury orally at 50 or 70 mg/kg/day for 155 Ambient Heavy Metal Exposure and Male Reproduction 20 weeks had non-significantly elevated blood mercury levels (approximately 2 ppm) [Mohamed et al 1987]. The percent motile sperm decreased in a dose-dependent fashion and was significantly different than the controls (approximately 58% and 52% vs. approximately 66% motile, respectively).…”

Environmental mercury exposure, semen quality and reproductive hormones in Greenlandic Inuit and European men: a cross-sectional study

“…[13][14][15] Reproductive toxicity of mercury has been described in several animal studies in which sperm motility, epididymal sperm count and normal sperm morphology decreased among rats, mice and monkeys after mercury exposure. [16][17][18][19][20] Human studies are few and contradictory. It has been reported that seminal fluid mercury concentrations are correlated with abnormal sperm morphology and abnormal sperm motility.…”

“…20 Adult monkeys with blood mercury levels around 2000 ng ml 21 , had a decreased sperm motility and sperm swimming speed, and increased abnormal sperm tail morphology. 17 Intraperitoneal mercury exposure at 1 mg kg 21 resulted in adverse effects on fertility among 7-week-old mice. 16 The animals and seminal fluids were exposed to significantly higher concentrations of mercury than observed in the present study.…”