Abstract
Objectives
Testicular toxicities of antimony compounds were evaluated in rats and mice. The slightly water-soluble antimony compound antimony trioxide (ATO) and the highly water-soluble antimony compound antimony potassium tartrate (APT) were examined.
Methods
Daily doses of the compounds were 27.4, 12.0 and 1,200 mg/kg body weight in the APT group, low-ATO group and high-ATO group, respectively. The corresponding daily doses of antimony were 10, 10 and 1,000 mg/kg body weight, in the APT group, low-ATO group and high-ATO group, respectively. Both compounds were administered by gavage: rats, 3 days per week for 4 weeks; mice, 5 days per week for 4 weeks.
Results
Neither compound reduced the weights of reproductive organs or accessory sex organs nor affected sperm parameters. Few marked histopathologic changes were found in the testes of the treated animals. Even at 1,200 mg/kg body weight, which is greater than the LD50 of APT, ATO produced no effects.
Conclusions
In this study, it was found that ATO and APT are not toxic to testes in rodents.
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Omura, M., Tanaka, A., Hirata, M. et al. Testicular toxicity evaluation of two antimony compounds, antimony trioxide and antimony potassium tartrate, in rats and mice. Environ Health Prev Med 7, 15–18 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02898061
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02898061