Human & experimental toxicology
-
The effects of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (EGEE) on the antioxidant systems of the testes and epididymal spermatozoa were investigated in rats at dose levels of 0, 100, 200 and 400 mg kg(-1) body weight (bw) administered orally by gavage for 14 consecutive days. The bw gain of the EGEE-treated rats decreased significantly at 200 and 400 mg kg(- 1) bw compared with the control group. There were no significant changes in the weights of the testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate glands of the EGEE-treated rats. ⋯ Results of haematological examination showed that white blood cells (WBC), platelets neutrophils and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were significantly lower whereas lymphocytes were increased in 200 and 400 mg/kg EGEE-exposed rats than in the controls. EGEE at 100 mg/kg bw produced minor effect on haematological parameters but adversely affected testes and spermatozoa. In summary, short term administration of EGEE is hematotoxic and gonadotoxic and its effects on male reproduction could be due to the induction of oxidative stress in testes and spermatozoa.