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Leydig cell death in rats exposed to bismuth subnitrate
Author(s) -
Pedersen Lars H.,
Stoltenberg Meredin,
Ernst Erik,
West Mark J.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of applied toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.784
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1099-1263
pISSN - 0260-437X
DOI - 10.1002/jat.912
Subject(s) - bismuth , leydig cell , coefficient of variation , testosterone (patch) , endocrinology , medicine , chemistry , andrology , body weight , toxicology , biology , hormone , chromatography , organic chemistry , luteinizing hormone
In a previous study, rats were treated with one injection of 500 mg kg −1 bismuth subnitrate intraperitoneally and maintained for 2 weeks. Bismuth was observed in Leydig cells, with a subsequent reduction in serum testosterone levels. In the present study, stereological procedures were used to estimate the number of Leydig cells in the right testis from the retained rats used in the previously published study. The mean number of Leydig cells in the control group was estimated to be 18.7 × 10 6 (coefcient of variation = 0.11), which is comparable to previous estimations. In the group exposed to bismuth the mean was 15.5 × 10 6 (coefcient of variation = 0.18). The observed 17% difference between the two groups was statistically signicant (2 P = 0.019). The inter‐individual variation was largest in the bismuth‐exposed group. Testis weight and body weight were not signicantly reduced after bismuth exposure. These ndings support the hypothesis that bismuth has a direct toxic effect on rat Leydig cells and underscores the potential risks of bismuth on male reproduction. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.