Effect of mustard gas at LD50 dose on reproductive system of rats / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate the effect of mustard gas on reproductive system in rats. Methods: Forty male SD rats and 40 female rats were equally divided into mustard gas-treated group and control group. Animals in mustard gas-treated group were injected with 5 mg · kg body weight (LD50) of mustard gas, and those in control group received propylene glycol injection. Serum hormonal determinations (estriol, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone) were completed by collecting ocular vein blood at 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days and 28 days after injection. The rats were then killed were anatomized. Microscope was used to observe pathological changes in germ cells (ovary or testes). Two female rats and 3 male rats died during 4th and 5th day after injection. Results: The changes of serum hormone and pathology nearly restored to the normal levels in the female rats after injection of mustard gas for a short period. Most of the spermatogenic cells were still necrotic and seminiferous tubules still had hollow cross 1 month after injection in male rats. The FSH levels in the sera of male rats were significangtly increased from (1.210 0±0. 354 6) mmol/L in control group to 0.475 0±0. 045 1) mmol/L 28 days after injection(P<0.01). Conclusion: Mustard gas causes slight injury of ovary in female rats and the damage can recover in a short period, but it can cause long-time and unreversable injury to testes in male rats.