Fertilizing ability in vivo and in vitro of spermatozoa of rats and mice treated with alpha-chlorohydrin.

The fertilizing ability of epididymal spermatozoa from rats and mice treated for 3 or 4 or 9 or 10 days with various doses of alpha-chlorohydrin was tested in vitro, and in vivo by intrauterine insemination. The minimum doses (per kg/day) needed to affect fertilization significantly were: rat, in vitro, 8-8 mg for 3 or 4 days, 4-4 mg for 4 days and 2-7 mg for 9 or 10 days; in vivo, 4-4 mg for 3 or 4 days and 2-7 mg for 9 or 10 days: mouse, in vitro, 4-4 mg for 3 days and 13-3 mg for 9 days; in vivo, 44-2 mg for 3 days and 26-5 for 9 days. Rats were infertile for at least 18 days after receiving 44-2 mg alpha-chlorohydrin/kg/day for 3 days, but fertilizing ability, tested in vivo and in vitro, was restored 10-11 days and 15-18 days, respectively, after daily treatment with 11-1 mg alpha-chlorohydrin/kg for 3 days.