Alteration of fertility endpoints in adult male F-344 rats by subchronic exposure to inhaled benzo(a)pyrene.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproductive risk associated with exposure of adult male Fisher-344 rats to inhaled benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). Rats were assigned randomly to a treatment or control group. Treatment consisted of sub-chronic exposure of rats via inhalation to 75microgBaP/m(3), 4h daily for 60 days, while control animals were unexposed (UNC). Blood samples were collected immediately after the cessation of exposures (time 0) and subsequently at 24, 48, and 72h, to assess the effect of bioavailable BaP on plasma testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations. Rats were sacrificed after the last blood collection. Testes were harvested, weighed and prepared for histology and morphometric analysis, and cauda epididymides were isolated for the determination of progressive motility and density of stored spermatozoa. BaP exposure reduced testis weight compared with UNC (mean+/-SE; 2.01+/-0.11 versus 3.04+/-0.16g; P<0.025), and caused significant reductions in the components of the steroidogenic and spermatogenic compartments of the testis. Progressive motility and mean density of stored spermatozoa were reduced (P<0.05). Plasma testosterone concentrations were decreased by two-thirds in BaP-exposed rats throughout the time periods studied compared with those of their UNC counterparts (P<0.05), concomitant with increased concentrations of LH in BaP-exposed rats (P<0.05). These data suggest that sub-chronic exposure to inhaled BaP contribute to reduced testicular and epididymal function in exposed rats.