[Rat reproductive cells as biological indicators of the effect of environmental factors].
Abstract
The effect of one-month-long inhalation exposure of male rats to sulphureous anhydrate, phenol, ammonia or to the mixture of these substances with formaldehyde and lead acetate, on the parameters of spermatogenesis was studied. The exposure of animals to sulphureous anhydrate or to the mixture indicated above resulted in the asynchronization of spermatogenic cycle, which was more significant than that caused by the separate application of substances studied. This mixture induced a 20% reduction in the number of tubules, containing spermatogonia, and a 20-30% increase in the number of tubules, containing spermatozoa. The structural and functional study of spermatogenic epithelium, considering stages of spermatogenic cycle, indicated that some cell populations form associations that are targets for the toxic agents studied.