ArticlePloS one2014
60-Day chronic exposure to low concentrations of HgCl2 impairs sperm quality: hormonal imbalance and oxidative stress as potential routes for reproductive dysfunction in rats.
Article in PloS one, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 39 citations in OpenAlex.
- A Narrative Review of Heavy Metals and Sperm Quality: The Interplay with Antioxidant Imbalance and Reactive Oxygen Species.Current issues in molecular biology · 2025Review
- Olanzapine induced reproductive toxicity in male rats.Scientific reports · 2021Article
- Collapsed mitochondrial cristae in goat spermatozoa due to mercury result in lethality and compromised motility along with altered kinematic patterns.Scientific reports · 2021Article
- Effects of Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury on the Structure and Function of Reproductive Organs.Toxics · 2020Review
- Methylmercury Poisoning Induces Cardiac Electrical Remodeling and Increases Arrhythmia Susceptibility and Mortality.International journal of molecular sciences · 2020Article
- Ziziphus spina-christi leaf extract attenuates mercury chloride-induced testicular dysfunction in rats.Environmental science and pollution research international · 2020Article
- Chronic stress reduces spermatogenic cell proliferation in rat testis.International journal of clinical and experimental pathology · 2019Article
- Natural Phytotherapeutic Antioxidants in the Treatment of Mercury Intoxication-A Review.Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin · 2018Review
- Article
- Toxic Effects of Trazodone on Male Reproductive System via Disrupting Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis and Inducing Testicular Oxidative Stress.Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity · 2018Article
- Reproductive toxicity after levetiracetam administration in male rats: Evidence for role of hormonal status and oxidative stress.PloS one · 2017Article
- Electromagnetic radiation at 900 MHz induces sperm apoptosis through bcl-2, bax and caspase-3 signaling pathways in rats.Reproductive health · 2015Article
- Sertraline-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats: evaluation of possible underlying mechanisms.Asian journal of andrologyArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Mercury is a toxic and bio-accumulative heavy metal of global concern. While good deals of research have been conducted on the toxic effects of mercury, little is known about the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of male reproductive dysfunction induced by mercury. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the effects and underlying mechanisms of chronic mercury exposure at low levels on male reproductive system of rats. Three-month-old male Wistar rats were divided into two groups and treated for 60 days with saline (i.m., Control) and HgCl2 (i.m. 1st dose: 4.6 µg/kg, subsequent doses 0.07 µg/kg/day). We analyzed sperm parameters, hormonal levels and biomarkers of oxidative stress in testis, epididymis, prostate and vas deferens. Mercury treatment decreased daily sperm production, count and motility and increased head and tail morphologic abnormalities. Moreover, mercury treatment decreased luteinizing hormone levels, increased lipid peroxidation on testis and decreased antioxidant enzymes activities (superoxide dismutase and catalase) on reproductive organs. Our data demonstrate that 60-day chronic exposure to low concentrations of HgCl2 impairs sperm quality and promotes hormonal imbalance. The raised oxidative stress seems to be a potential mechanism involved on male reproductive toxicity by mercury.
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Registered trials
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