Reproductive toxicity of acrylamide and related compounds in mice--effects on fertility and sperm morphology.

Acrylamide and its three neurotoxic analogues, which are known to induce testicular damage in animals, were tested for reproductive toxicity in male and female mice and for the effect on germ cells in males, after subchronic treatment. After mating the treated males with untreated females, a decrease in fertility rate for all analogues except for N-hydroxymethylacrylamide, and an increase in the number of resorptions/dam for all test compounds were found. When untreated males were mated with treated females, an increase in the number of resorptions/dam was seen only after acrylamide dosing without any effect on the fertility rate. The reproductive toxicity appeared with only slight or no testicular atrophy, and without any apparent neurotoxicity after treatment with all test compounds. High doses of all test compounds produced both a decreased sperm count and an increase in abnormal sperm morphology.