[Studies on male reproductive toxicity caused by hexavalent chromium]

To study male reproductive toxicity caused by hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI +)).

Morphology of semen and spermatozoa was observed and chromium level in blood, chromium and zinc level in sperm plasma, leuteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in serum were determined for male workers exposed to (Cr(VI +)) (CrO(3)X = 0.0195 mg/m(3)) with occupational epidemiologic investigation and laboratory analysis.

For the exposed workers, their seminal counting was (52.21 +/- 45.51) x 10(9)/L, and zinc level in seminal plasma (4,811.85 +/- 1,401.88) micromol/L, significantly lower than those in controls (88.96 +/- 74.82) x 10(9)/L and (5 718.49 +/- 2 827.90) micromol/L, respectively, P < 0.05. Serum FSH was (7.34 +/- 6.88) IU/L in the exposed groups, significantly higher than that of controls (2.41 +/- 1.69) IU/L, P < 0.01. There were no significant difference in semen volume, semen liquefaction time, prevalence of teratospermia, serum Cr(VI +) and LH level in seminal plasma between exposed group and control group (P > 0.05). Prevalence of teratospermia was 0.24 +/- 0.09, and serum LH and FSH were (7.94 +/- 2.67) IU/L and FSH (9.33 +/- 6.47) IU/L, respectively, in workers exposed to high concentration of Cr(VI +) (CrO(3)X = 0.2351 mg/m(3)) significantly higher than those exposed to lower concentration of Cr(VI +) (CrO(3)X = 0.0172 mg/m(3)), with 0.17 +/- 0.06 of prevalence of teratospermia, (5.05 +/- 3.05) IU/L of LH, and (3.74 +/- 3.04) IU/L of FSH, respectively (P < 0.05).

The results suggested that damage to convoluted seminiferous tubules epithelium, reduction of spermatozoa formation and increase in prevalence of teratospermia could be caused by exposure to certain concentration of Cr(VI +).