Table 5.
Testosterone, sperm count, and testis histology after MTBE exposure: 28-day drinking water study in adult BALB/c mice
| Group | Serum testosterone (ng/ml)1 |
Sperm per mg cauda × 105) |
Testis histology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tap water control |
2.61 ± 1.56 | 3.33 ± 0.98 | 2 mice with unilateral seminiferous tubule degeneration, 1 mild (grade 2), 1 minimal (grade 1) |
| 80 ppb MTBE | 2.21 ± 3.42 | 3.66 ± 1.03 | 1 mouse with unilateral seminiferous tubule degeneration, minimal (grade 1) |
| 800 ppb MTBE | 3.71 ± 7.46 | 2.79 ± 0.32 | 1 mouse with unilateral seminiferous tubule degeneration, minimal (grade 1) |
| 8000 ppb MTBE | 1.63 ± 0.89 | 3.06 ± 1.01 | 2 mice with unilateral seminiferous tubule degeneration, both minimal (grade 1) |
Notes: Values are mean ± standard deviation, n=6. No significant differences observed across the treatment groups (p>0.05)