Assessment of reproductive toxicity in male rats following acute and sub-chronic exposures to diphenyl diselenide and diphenyl ditelluride

The present study was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of the exposure to diphenyl diselenide [(PhSe)(2)] and diphenyl ditelluride [(PhTe)(2)] on reproductive system in Wistar rats. Adult male rats were exposed intraperitonealy (acute) or subcutaneously (sub-chronic, during 4 or 8 weeks) to (PhSe)(2) or (PhTe)(2) prior to mating. A number of biochemical parameters in rat testes were examined, such as 5-aminolevulinate dehydratase (delta-ALA-D) activity, lipid peroxidation, glycogen content and components of the antioxidant defenses (superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and ascorbic acid concentration). Furthermore, a possible effect on fertility and reproductive performance in male rats were studied. Sperm counts of caudal epididymis were also evaluated. No lethality was noted in any group. Reduction on body weight in rats which received (PhTe)(2) was only evidenced in acute exposure, while (PhSe)(2)-exposed rats presented significant loss of body weight in acute and 4 week-exposure. Mating and fertility indexes were not affected after acute and sub-chronic exposure. Regarding other parameters studied, except for a decrease in testes glycogen content in acutely (PhSe)(2)-treated group, no alterations were found in treated groups. Sperm counts of rats treated acutely and sub-chronically were unaffected by drugs exposure. Histological evaluation revealed no modification on testicular tissue in rats exposed to (PhSe)(2) and (PhTe)(2). The results suggest the absence of the male reproductive toxicity induced by (PhSe)(2) and (PhTe)(2) administered intraperitonealy (acute) or subcutaneously (sub-chronical) to adult rats Wistar. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.