Effect of lead chloride on spermatogenesis and sperm parameters in mice

Aim: To evaluate the effect of acute lead chloride exposure on testis and sperm parameters in mice. Methods: PbCl2, 74 mg/kg, was daily administered to sexually mature male mice for 3 days and the effects on the testicular histology and ultrastructure as well as the motility and density of spermatozoa in cauda epididymis were observed. An additional group of mice were treated for 1-3 days and were allowed to recover for 32 days to determine the reversibility of lead-induced changes. Results: The testicular weight, seminiferous tubular diameter and sperm counts were significantly decreased following 3 days of PbCl2 treatment, but were unaffected by shorter-term exposures. The changes caused by lead are mostly reversible. Conclusion: Acute lead chloride exposure injures the fertility parameters of male mice and the effects are partially reversible.

Reply to 'Statistical testing and distribution for lead chloride toxicity'

We are very grateful for the letter written by Dr Lange,and indeed apologize for the mistakes noted in the word-ing of our text regarding statistical analysis.This wasdue to changes carried out while revising the manuscriptat the request of reviewers,whom we thank for,point-ing out several issues that were actually similar to thosenoted by Dr.Lange.Unfortunately,we were unable todescribe and discuss our findings properly in the context

Effect of ABCB1 3435C>T transporter gene polymorphism on plasma efavirenz concentration in HIV-1 infected Thai adults

Objective:To investigate the influence of ABCB1 polymorphisms on the plasma level of efavirenz in Thai adult cases infected with HIV-1.Methods:A single nucleotide polymorphism of ABCB13435 C>T(rs1045642)in the gene encoding ABCB1 was genotyped using real-time PCR-based alleles in 149 HIV-infected Thai adults receiving efavirenz treatment.Plasma concentrations of efavirenz were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography 12 hr after administration.The relationship between plasma efavirenz concentrations and ABCB13435 C>T polymorphisms was analyzed.Results:Logistic regression analysis showed no significant predictors of high plasma efavirenz concentration in relation to age,gender,body weight,CD4 count and plasma HIV-1 RNA,blood biochemical parameters,antiretroviral duration or ABCB13435 C>T polymorphisms,except for height(OR=0.902,95%CI:0.835-0.973)(P<0.05).The minor allele frequency of ABCB13435 C>T was0.446.The frequency of the heterozygous mutant ABCB13435 C/T was 53.02%(n=79),ABCB13435 T/T homozygous mutant was 18.12%(n=21)and the wild type ABCB13435 C/C genotype was 28.86%(n=43).The overall median plasma concentration of efavirenz in 149 HIV-infected Thai cases was 2.41 mg/L[IQR:(1.46-4.12)mg/L].The plasma concentration of efavirenz was higher in cases with ABCB13435 T/T homozygous mutant[2.73 mg/L,IQR:(2.02-4.19)mg/L]and ABCB13435 C/T heterozygous mutant[2.29 mg/L,IQR:(1.41-4.28)mg/L]genotypes compared to the wild type ABCB13435 C/C homozygous[2.1 mg/L,IQR:(1.37-3.53)mg/L].However,there was no statistically significant difference in the efavirenz concentration between the different genotypes(P>0.05).Objective:To investigate the influence of ABCB1 polymorphisms on the plasma level of efavirenz in Thai adult cases infected with HIV-1.Methods:A single nucleotide polymorphism of ABCB13435 C>T(rs1045642)in the gene encoding ABCB1 was genotyped using real-time PCR-based alleles in 149 HIV-infected Thai adults receiving efavirenz treatment.Plasma concentrations of efavirenz were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography 12 hr after administration.The relationship between plasma efavirenz concentrations and ABCB13435 C>T polymorphisms was analyzed.Results:Logistic regression analysis showed no significant predictors of high plasma efavirenz concentration in relation to age,gender,body weight,CD4 count and plasma HIV-1 RNA,blood biochemical parameters,antiretroviral duration or ABCB13435 C>T polymorphisms,except for height(OR=0.902,95%CI:0.835-0.973)(P<0.05).The minor allele frequency of ABCB13435 C>T was 0.446.The frequency of the heterozygous mutant ABCB13435 C/T was 53.02%(n=79),ABCB13435 T/T homozygous mutant was 18.12%(n=27)and the wild type ABCB13435 C/C genotype was 28.86%(n=43).The overall median plasma concentration of efavirenz in 149 HIV-infected Thai cases was 2.41 mg/L[IQR:(1.46-4.12)mg/L].The plasma concentration of efavirenz was higher in cases with ABCB13435 T/T homozygous mutant[2.73 mg/L,IQR:(2.02-4.19)mg/L]and ABCB13435 C/T heterozygous mutant[2.29 mg/L,IQR:(1.41-4.28)mg/L]genotypes compared to the wild type ABCB13435 C/C homozygous[2.1 mg/L,IQR:(1.37-3.53)mg/L].However,there was no statistically significant difference in the efavirenz concentration between the different genotypes(P>0.05).Conclusions:There is no statistical significance for a tendency toward higher plasma efavirenz concentration in the ABCB13435 T/T and ABCB13435 C/T genotypes.No parameters of physiological characteristics in this study except for height were found to be predictors of high plasma efavirenz concentration in Thai HIV-1 infected cases.