Toxic effect of mercury on testes in different animal species

Testicular changes following the administration of mercuric chloride, (HgCl2, ip in various dosages) over one month were studied in rats, mice, guinea pigs and hamsters. HgCl2 (5 mg/kg) caused a testicular degeneration and cellular deformation was observed in both the seminiferous tubules and the Leydig cells in all species: a significant decrease of testicular weight also resulted. There was no cellular deformation at the dose of 2 mg/kg: only spermatogenic inhibition and Leydig cell atrophy were observed in the animals. At the dose of 1 mg/kg, testicular degeneration was observed only in the hamster, only partial degeneration was recorded in the rat and the mouse and no change was noted in the guinea pig.