Effect of sodium nitrite on the alpha-chlorohydrin-induced lesion of the testis--epididymis complexin the rat

Administration of vasodilator, sodium nitrite (20 mg/kg body weight), 30 min before alpha-chlorohydrin treatment (90 mg/kg body weight) prevented the chlorohydrin-induced lesion in rat testis--epididymis complex. However, administration of vasodilator 90 min after alpha-chlorohydrin treatment did not prevent the chlorohydrin-induced lesion in the testis--epididymis complex. These observations suggest that the testicular vasculature is involved in drug action.

The antifertility activity and toxicity of alpha-chlorohydrin derivatives in male rats

The antifertility activity and toxicity of alpha-chlorohydrin, six derivatives and glycidol were investigated in male rats. At a dose of 5 mg/kg injected intraperitoneally each day for 14 days, only alpha-chlorohydrin produced complete infertility. When rats were injected with the derivatives at a dose equivalent to 5 mg/kg of alpha-chlorohydrin on a molar basis, the phosphorylated and amino acid derivatives produced complete infertility within 7 days; however, there were some signs of toxicity. Compound II also produced complete infertility and appeared less toxic. AY - 22,352, compounds III and IV and glycidol had no antifertility activity, although spermatozoan motility was reduced by injection of glycidol.

Antifertility activity of alpha-chlorohydrin (3-chloro-1, 2 propanediol, U-5897) on the female rats

alpha-chlorohydrin administration brings about regression in the corpus luteum and shedding of the uterine endometrium, indicating its luteolytic activity, alpha-chlorohydrin inhibited vaginal keratinization and interrupted the sex cycle. A dioestrous leucocytic pattern of the vaginal smear is retained during medication. Decreased synthesis of RNA, protein, sialic acid and glycogen concentration in the uterus and vagina suggest possible antioestrogenic action of the compound. The antifertility action of the drug may be due to its antioestrogenic property.

Effect of alpha-chlorohydrin on epididymal sperm and epididymal plasma in swine

Investigation of the contraceptive mechanism of alpha-chlorohydrin was done by analyses of epididymal plasma and certain epididymal sperm characteristics after oral administration of 0, 5, 10 or 30 mg/kg, day of the drug to boars for 15 days. Water resorption in caput epididymidis was slightly decreased in all treatment groups. Sodium, potassium, chloride, glycerylphosphorylcholine levels, and seminal antigens in epididymal plasma were not altered significantly by 10 or 30 mg/kg of the drug. The boars on 5 mg/kg exhibited significantly elevated sodium, potassium, or chloride values in various segments. Motility was significantly lower on corpus and proximal cauda epididymal spermatozoa from alpha-chlorohydrin treated boars. Only boars receiving 30 mg/kg exhibited impaired sperm motility in the distal cauda. The movement of the cytoplasmic droplets to the distal position was retarded in boars on the two highest dose levels. The results suggest that the contraceptive effects of alpha-chlorohydrin in the boar is probably not mediated via an impaired epididymal function.

Effect of alpha-chlorohydrin and vasoligation on epididymal and testicular blood flow in the rat and on sperm parameters

Rats were injected subcutaneously with the male antifertility agent, alpha-chlorohydrin (90 mg/kg), and the animals killed 4/24, 2, 5, 10 and 20 days after the injection. Rats in a second series were killed at the same time intervals following bilateral ligation of the vasa efferentia to mimic the effect of the high dose of alpha-chlorohydrin in blocking the initial segment of the epididymis. The epididymides were cut into segments for relative blood flow estimations. There was little change in the pattern of blood flow in the epididymal segments of rats injected with alpha-chlorohydrin, and it appears that interference with the epididymal vasculature is not an important factor in the mode of action of alpha-chlorohydrin. Bilateral ligation of the vasa efferentia produced a marked effect on blood flow through the epididymis. The results suggest that this dose of alpha-chlorohydrin disrupts the motility and morphology of sperm in the epididymis.

The antifertility action of alpha-chlorohydrin: enzyme inhibition by alpha-chlorohydrin phosphate

Preparations of the enzymes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and triosephosphate isomerase are shown to be inhibited by alpha-chlorohydrin phosphate (II) in a competitive and non-competitive manner, respectively. alpha-Chlorohydrin (I), glycidol and epi-chlorohydrin have no inhibitory activities suggesting that their antifertility actions are due to their metabolism in vivo to alpha-chlorohydrin phosphate.

The oxidative metabolism of alpha-chlorohydrin in the male rat and the formation of spermatocoeles

1. The oxidative metabolism of [3-36C]chloropropan-1,2-diol (alpha-chlorohydrin, I) was studied in male rats. Two metabolites were isolated and identified as beta-chlorolactic acid (IV) and oxalic acid (V). 2. Neither alpha-chlorohydrin nor beta-chlorolactate was concentrated in any tissue. Traces of an intermediate metabolite, beta-chlorolactaldehyde (III) were detected in the urine within 4 h of administration. Studies in vitro indicated that the metabolic pathway is: alpha-chlorohydrin leads to beta-chlorolactaldehyde leads to beta-chlorolactic acid. 3. A comparative study of the metabolism of 36Cl- and 14C-beta-chlorolactate showed that oxalate was produced slowly and, as calcium oxalate, caused a type of renal glomerular nephritis. This pathological condition is responsible for the diuretic action of both alpha-chlorohydrin and beta-chlorolactate and, in higher doses, for their toxicities. 4. The role of oxalate, as a metabolite of alpha-chlorohydrin and of a number of related compounds, in inducing the formation of spermatocoeles in the male rat reproductive tract is discussed.

Histochemical changes of the rat testis and epididymis after treatment of alpha-chlorohydrin-effects of a single low dose

A histochemical study has been made of the localization and changes of lipids, carbohydrates, ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase in fresh and fixed frozen sections of testicular and epididymal components in the normal and alpha-chlorohydrin-treated rats. After treatment with a single low dose of alpha-chlorohydrin, the phospholipids are decreased with corresponding increase in triglycerides in both the testis and epididymis. Glycogen, ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase are also decreased after treatment with alpha-chlorohydrin. The physiological significance of these histochemical changes has been discussed.

Phospholipid analysis in testis-epididymis complex after alpha-chlorohydrin administration

alpha-Chlorohydrin, 6.5 mg/kg body weight for 14 days, did not alter total phospholipids, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl serine, phosphatidyl inositol and sphingomyelin in rat testis and caput and corpus epididymis. However, marked decrease in total phospholipids, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl inositol in cauda epididymis and vas deferens was observed. p32 incorporation also showed similar changes in phospholipids.

Mode of action of alpha-chlorohydrin as a male anti-fertility agent. Inhibition of the metabolism of ram spermatozoa by alpha-chlorohydrin and location of block in glycolysis

1. The effect of alpha-chlorohydrin on the metabolism of glycolytic and tricarboxylate-cycle substrates by ram spermatozoa was investigated. The utilization and oxidation of fructose and triose phosphate were much more sensitive to inhibition by alpha-chlorohydrin (0.1-1.0mm) than lactate or pyruvate. Inhibition of glycolysis by alpha-chlorohydrin is concluded to be between triose phosphate and pyruvate formation. Oxidation of glycerol was not as severely inhibited as that of the triose phosphate. This unexpected finding can be explained in terms of competition between glycerol and alpha-chlorohydrin. A second, much less sensitive site, of alpha-chlorohydrin inhibition appears to be associated with production of acetyl-CoA from exogenous and endogenous fatty acids. 2. Measurement of the glycolytic intermediates after incubation of spermatozoal suspensions with 15mm-fructose in the presence of 3mm-alpha-chlorohydrin showed a ;block' in the conversion of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate into 3-phosphoglycerate. alpha-Chlorohydrin also caused conversion of most of the ATP in spermatozoa into AMP. After incubation with 3mm-alpha-chlorohydrin, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and triose phosphate isomerase activities were decreased by approx. 90% and 80% respectively, and in some experiments aldolase was also inhibited. Other glycolytic enzymes were not affected by a low concentration (0.3mm) of alpha-chlorohydrin. Loss of motility of spermatozoa paralleled the decrease in glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. alpha-Chlorohydrin, however, did not inhibit glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase or triose phosphate isomerase in sonicated enzyme preparations when added to the assay cuvette. 3. Measurement of intermediates and glycolytic enzymes in ejaculated spermatozoa before, during and after injection of rams with alpha-chlorohydrin (25mg/kg body wt.) confirmed a severe block in glycolysis in vivo at the site of triose phosphate conversion into 3-phosphoglycerate within 24h of the first injection. Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was no longer detectable and both aldolase and triose phosphate isomerase were severely inhibited. Spermatozoal ATP decreased by 92% at this time, being quantitatively converted into AMP. At 1 month after injection of alpha-chlorohydrin glycolytic intermediate concentrations returned to normal in the spermatozoa but ATP was still only 38% of the pre-injection concentration. Motility of spermatozoa was, however, as good as during the pre-injection period. The activity of the inhibited enzymes also returned to normal during the recovery period and 26 days after injection were close to pre-injection values. 4. An unknown metabolic product of alpha-chlorohydrin is suggested to inhibit glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and triose phosphate isomerase of spermatozoa. This results in a lower ATP content, motility and fertility of the spermatozoa. Glycidol was shown not to be an active intermediate of alpha-chlorohydrin in vitro.

Effects of the optical isomers of alpha-chlorohydrin on glycolysis by ram testicular spermatozoa and the fertility of male rats

When 0-1 mM-S alpha-chlorohydrin was present in incubations, glycolysis by ram testicular spermatozoa was almost completely inhibited whereas 10 mM-R alpha-chlorohydrin had no effect. Male rats dosed orally with S alpha-chlorohydrin (3-25 mg/kg/day) became much less fertile than controls but those dosed with R alpha-chlorohydrin (13 mg/kg/day) did not. The loss of fertility was associated with a reduced ability of spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis of these rats to oxidize glucose. It is concluded that the S enantiomer is responsible for both the inhibition of sperm glycolysis and the reduction in fertility caused by the racemic mixture of alpha-chlorohydrin.

Chemical sterilization of male langurs: synergistic action of alpha-chlorohydrin (U-5897) with methallibure (ICI, 33828) on the testes and epididymides of Presbytis entellus entellus Dufresne

1. Synergistic action of alpha-chlorohydrin with methallibure (ICI, 33828) on the testicular function of Presbytis entellus entellus Dufresne has been studied. 2. Chronic administration of alpha-chlorohydrin alone (140 mg/day for 40 days) caused testicular lesion resulting in a massive atrophy of the spermatogenic elements. Epididymal epithelium was regressed and the lumen was devoid of spermatozoa. 3. alpha-Chlorohydrin inhibited the synthesis of RNA and sialic acid in the testes and epididymides. Total cholesterol per gram of testis and alkaline phosphatase activity were increased after alpha-chlorohydrin administration. 4. These effects could be achieved with a lower dose of alpha-chlorohydrin (1/4) when administered in combination with a gonadotrophin inhibitor, i. e. ICI, 33828 (Methallibure). Methallibure alone (200 mg/kg: total dose) has no damaging effects on the testes and epididymides. But it altered testicular cholesterol and enzyme activity. 5. In conclusion, an effective inhibition of spermatogenesis could be achieved by synergistic action of the two different drugs i. e. alpha-chlorohydrin and ICI, 33828 (Methallibure).