Early indicators of male reproductive toxicity

Longitudinal data were analyzed for seminal characteristics of rhesus monkeys and beagles. The monkeys were exposed to DBCP; the beagles were exposed to acute or chronic whole body gamma irradiation. The semen was analyzed for volume and sperm concentration. Sperm were measured for percent motility, swimming speed, and head dimensions. Abnormalities of the sperm tail were also noted. All treatments resulted in measurable effects on the semen parameters. Sperm production, as evaluated by seminal sperm concentration or total sperm numbers in the ejaculate, was as informative of testicular toxicity as any other parameter or combination of parameters. A consistent finding was that changes in sperm output occurred concomitantly with changes in sperm motility.