The Psoralens Adversely Affect Reproductive Function in Male Wistar Rats
Reproductive Toxicology 15 (2001) 137–144 www.elsevier.com/locate/reprotox The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Moussa M. Diawaraa,*, Kathryn J. Chavezb, Doug Simplemana, David E. Williamsc, Michael R. Franklind, Patricia B. Hoyere aDepartment of Biology, University of Southern Colorado, Pueblo, CO 81001, USA bDepartment of Comparative Environmental Toxicology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA cDepartment of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA dDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA eDepartment of Physiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AR 85721, USA Received 3 October 2000; received in revised form 3 November 2000; accepted 23 December 2000 This research was supported, in part, by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH/NIEHS) grant ES00288 (to MMD), grant ADCRC #9808 (to PBH), and The University of Southern Colorado’s Faculty Scholarly Activity Grant. Abstract The psoralens occur naturally in produce and are widely used in skin therapy. Studies show that 5-methoxypsoralen and 8-methoxy- psoralen reduced birth rates in rats. We determined the effect of psoralens on reproductive function in male rats. Male Wistar rats were dosed daily with 5-methoxypsoralen or 8-methoxypsoralen (75 or 150 mg/kg, p.o.), or vehicle control. Treated males had significantly smaller pituitary glands, fewer sperm per ejaculate, and fewer sperm in the vasa defferentia and epididymides than controls. Dosing significantly elevated levels of testosterone and increased relative testis weight, but did not directly affect testicular weight. Females bred to dosed males required more time to become pregnant, and these males required more breeding attempts.
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