Effects of Mercury Chloride on Sperm Parameters and Pathological Changes in Kidney of Mouse

Abstract

Mercury chloride (HgCl2) is a toxic substance increasingly being recognized as a potential environmental pollutant. In this study, sperm parameters have been studied to relate the effects of HgCl2 on mice fertility and to evaluate the toxicity of HgCl2 on kidney. The kidney is well documented as the target organ for HgCl.2. Forty Swiss albino male mice, eight to ten -week-old and weighing 28 - 30 g. Animals were divided into four groups, each group contain ten animals and injected intraperitoneally weekly with 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg mercury chloride /kg body weight for eight weeks respectively. Sperms of vas deferens were evaluated with respect to sperm count, motility, and morphology. Total sperm count and motility were significantly decreased in dose dependent manner of Mercury chloride, while sperm abnormality increased consistently at different doses of mercurial treatment over a period of eight weeks. Maximum sperm abnormality among the treated groups was noted in the group given 2 mg/kg body weight. The study revealed that Mercury chloride has a potency to alter sperm parameters. Also, histological alterations were also observed in the Kidney.