Correlation of sperm motion parameters with fertility in rats treated subchronically with epichlorohydrin

We investigated the relationship between fertility and sperm motin endpoints in rats treated subchronically with the male reproductive toxicant, epichlorohydrin (ECH). Male rats were given ECH orally for 23 days at dosages of 0, 6.25, 12.5, or 25 mg/kg/day. They were mated twice (at 19 and 22 days) to estimate fertility by (1) detection of fertilized ova (presence of sperm head and tail or two pronuclei) 18 hours after mating and by (2) counting implants on day 14 of gestation. Both indices showed dose-related reductions (P less than 0.001). Motion parameters of cauda epididymal sperm were assessed using the CellSoft computer-assisted sperm motion analysis (CASA) system after the rats were asphyxiated on day 25. Curvilinear velocity, straight-line velocity, linearity, and amplitude of lateral head displacement were reduced in a dose-related manner. The fertility indices, percent fertilized ova, and percent implantation on day 14 of gestation were correlated significantly (r = 0.68; P = 0.0001). The following motion parameters were also correlated significantly with fertility (P less than 0.0003; r1 = percent fertilized ova and r2 = percent implantation): linearity (r1 = 0.42; r2 = 0.40), amplitude of lateral head displacement (r1 = 0.54; r2 = 0.48), curvilinear velocity (r1 = 0.53; r2 = 0.50), straight-line velocity (r1 = 0.55; r2 = 0.50), and percent motile sperm (r1 = 0.42; r2 = 0.32). These results suggest a relationship between toxicant-induced reductions in sperm motion and fertility.