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[Effects of chronic inhalation of ethylene oxide on the rat testes]
1Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Abstract:
The effects of chronic exposure of ethylene oxide on the testes were investigated. When rats were exposed to 500 ppm, three times a week for 13 weeks, the testes of the exposed group became remarkably atrophic and their DNA content decreased proportionally. However, plasma testosterone concentration did not significantly change. In the testes the activity of glutathione reductase decreased by 45% and glutathione-S-transferase increased by 64%, respectively. These results suggest that ethylene oxide causes a definite toxicity in the testes and the abnormality of glutathione metabolism plays an important role in its toxicity.