Spermatogenesis, abnormal

Among the other causes of male infertility are anatomical abnormalities, abnormal spermatogenesis, abnormal motility, and psychosocial causes. A list of drugs that can affect male reproductive function is given in Table 53-3. 

In addition to their endocrine disrupting properties, it must be appreciated that many of the chemicals in question possess more general toxic properties, which may be potentiated by metabolism by the organism. Several PAHs, PCBs and PCDDs are carcinogenic, while certain phthalate esters can enhance the excretion of zinc, potentially leading to zinc deficiency. Zinc, an essential element, plays a vital role in spermatogenesis and mature T-cell production. Deficiency may result in abnormalities of the male reproductive system, depletion of spermatogenesis and suppression of the immune system. 

It is widely accepted that men with testicular cancer have a higher incidence of abnormalities associated with impaired spermatogenesis, both in the cancerous testis but also in the contralateral testis. Men diagnosed as having testicular cancer often have very poor semen quality, with sperm concentrations of less than 10 million/ml compared to healthy men with > 50 million/ml." It is thought that gonadal function is abnormal even before testicular cancer develops, ... 

Adult males given 500 mg Zn/kg ration, as ZnS04, for 6 weeks After 3 weeks, spermatogenesis was arrested at the primary spermatocyte stage. After 4 weeks, food consumption declined, forelimb lameness, and swelling in cervical lymph nodes. At 6 weeks, testes showed enlarged lumen and abnormal germinal epithelium. 20... 

In contrast to these findings in rats are observations made in prepubertal mice that testicular growth and development were not affected by 40 or 48 mg/kg of 1,3-DNB (Evenson et al. 1989a). In pubertal and adult mice, however, abnormal spermatogenesis and an increase in chromatin structure abnormality were apparent after a single dose of 48 mg/kg 1,3-DNB (Evenson et al. 

Functional disturbances in spermatogenesis and morphologic abnormalities of sperm were observed among workers occupationally exposed to 0.28 and 1.94ppm chloroprene. A threefold excess of miscarriages in the wives of these workers also was reported. 

Hembree WC, Nagler HM, Fang JS, Myles EL, Jagiello GM. Infertility in a patient with abnormal spermatogenesis and in utero DES exposure. Int J Fertil 1988 33(3) 173-7. 

Urinary calculi are frequent concomitants of vitamin A deficiency. The epithelium of the urinary tract shares in the general pathological changes of all epithelial structures. Epithelial debris thus may provide the nidus around which a calculus is formed. Abnormalities of reproduction include impairment of spermatogenesis, degeneration of testes, abortion, resorption of fetuses, and production of malformed offspring. 

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