US EPA

1578862 

Journal Article 

[Effects of formaldehyde on germ cells of male mice] 

Tang, M; Xie, Y; Yi, Y; Wang, W 

2003 

1 

Weisheng Yanjiu / Journal of Hygiene Research
ISSN: 1000-8020 

Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 

32 

6 

544-548 

Chinese 

14963899 

General toxicity and genetic materials damage of formaldehyde on germ cells in different stages was studied. In order to discover the toxicity mechanism of formaldehyde on germ cells and the biomarkers of effect after the presence of damage in germ cells and the estimation index, the relationships between the damage of germ cells and the MDA, SDH activity and Cu and Zn. in testicle tissue were investigated. Male mice exposed to formaldehyde by i.p. for 5 days. Formaldehyde doses were: 0.20 mg/kg, 2.00 mg/kg, 20.00 mg/kg. Mice were killed at the 6th day and the 14th day. HE staining was used to study the pathological changes happened in testicle tissue. In order to study the changes in sperm, the sperms and the abnormality of the sperm's heads were observed. In order to study the damage of the genetic material in the germ cells, the frequencies of sister chromosome exchanges and the frequencies of MN cells were studied. MDA was measured by MDA diagnosis box. Copper and zinc were determined by FAAS. US was used to determine the SDH activity in serum and testicle tissue. The results showed that: The main pathological changes in testicle tissue of formaldehyde groups were degeneration; The sperm quantity was decreased and the sperm heads deformation ratio was increased in all formaldehyde groups; There were a significant increase of MN ratio in early spermatogenic cells and SCE ratio in medial and high dose groups; The MDA in testicle tissue significant increased in high dose group. The SDH activity in testicle tissue was declined in all formaldehyde groups; There were a significant decline of copper and zinc in testicle tissue in high dose group. It is suggested that: Formaldehyde could induce genetic materials in spermatogone, primary spermatocyte and caused degeneration and necrosis in secondary spermatocyte, spermatogenic cell, sperm; The damage of LPO, decline of copper and zinc and SDH activity in mice's testicle tissue could be caused by formaldehyde; The effect of lipid peroxidation may be one of the toxicity mechanisms of formaldehyde on genetic materials; SDH is the biomarkers of effect after the toxicity effects induced by formaldehyde on germ cells appeared; Testing the sperm heads deformation ratio is the estimation index that can be used to judge the general toxicity of germ cells and the damage on their genetic materials of formaldehyde. 

Animals; Copper/metabolism; Formaldehyde/toxicity; Malondialdehyde/metabolism; Micronucleus Tests; Random Allocation; Spermatozoa/drug effects/pathology; Succinate Dehydrogenase/metabolism; Testis/drug effects; Zinc/metabolism; 50-00-0; 542-78-9; 7440-50-8; 7440-66-6; EC 1.3.99.1