A direct effect of α‐chlorohydrin on rat epididymal spermatozoa

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Abstract
The effect of .alpha.-chlorohydrin (.alpha.-CH) on rat epididymal spermatozoa was studied in vivo and in vitro. .alpha.-CH was injected s.c. in doses of 5 and 20 mg daily for 16 days. The 20 mg dose resulted in diminished epididymal spermatozoal content (8 .+-. 4 vs. 44 .+-. 5 million, m .+-. SE, n = 5) and motility (13 .+-. 7 vs. 74 .+-. 4%) as compared to saline injected-controls. Fertility rates were significantly reduced; control-100% (5/5), 5 mg - 25% (1/4), 20 mg - 0% (0/4). .alpha.-CH was added to suspensions of spermatozoa in vitro and a level of 132 .mu.g/ml depressed motility by 90% (P < 0.0001) and O2 consumption by 40% (P < 0.05). Intrauterine insemination of in vitro treated spermatozoa was performed in 61 proestrous rats. .alpha.-CH treated spermatozoa (from 5.3 to 26.400 .mu.g/ml) were completely infertile compared to untreated spermatozoa which showed a 63% fertility rate. There was almost complete absence of oocytes in the flushed ampullas of recipients of .alpha.-CH treated sperm, in the lowest dose which did not affect sperm motility. .alpha.-CH has direct effect upon spermatozoal function and also has a possible effect on the female reproductive tract.