[Testicular toxicity of allyl chloride]

In this study, 124 mg/kg of allyl chloride (one-fifth of LD50) was administered to mice by a single subcutaneous injection and its effects on the male reproductive system were evaluated at 4 days, 9 days, 14 days, 22 days and 39 days after treatment. Allyl chloride decreased the weight of the testes, reduced the numbers of spermatid and sperm, and increased the frequency of the morphologically abnormal sperm without any sign of general influence. From these results, allyl chloride was confirmed to be a definite testicular toxicant in mice. Spermatid reduction was already apparent at 4 days after treatment. Therefore, it was found that allyl chloride affected the testis immediately after the injection. Sperm with an abnormal tail (most of them were sperm with a folded tail) increased at the cauda epididymis before the epididymal sperm reduction became apparent. Consequently, it seemed likely that, with its toxic effects on the testis, allyl chloride also affected sperm passing through the epididymis and disturbed their maturation. Spermatid/sperm reduction caused by allyl chloride did not recover and seemed to get worse until 39 days after treatment. The testicular damage caused by allyl chloride was irreversible during this observation period.