Induction of morphologically abnormal sperm in rats exposed to O-Xylene.

An analysis of sperm abnormalities can be used as a rapid method to determine the mutagenic potential of chemical agents as well as the toxic potential of chemicals on the whole animal. O-Xylene was investigated for its potential mutagenicity by the sperm abnormality assay. Sprague Dawley rats 10-16 weeks old were injected intraperitoneally (ip) with 0.5 and 1.5 ml/kg body weight of o-xylene in corn oil. Five weeks after treatment, animals were sacrificed and sperm examined for morphological abnormalities. Several morphologically abnormal sperm types were observed; among these were those with amorphous heads, and banana-like heads. Animals housed at room temperatures of 20-24 degrees C showed no significant increase in abnormal sperm over the control. Rats housed at temperatures between 24 and 30 degrees C after ip injection with 0.5 ml/kg o-xylene showed a significant increase in abnormal sperm.