Autometallographic detection of mercury in testicular tissue of an infertile man exposed to mercury vapor

Reprod Toxicol. 1993 Sep-Oct;7(5):469-75. doi: 10.1016/0890-6238(93)90092-l.

Abstract

A 25-year-old male patient presented with unexplained infertility. Semen analysis showed azoospermia or severe oligoasthenoteratospermia with elevated serum FSH. The history revealed that he had been employed in a chemical factory for 5 years working with chloralkali-electrophoresis. Mercury concentrations in hair, blood, and urine samples were considerably above levels of unexposed controls. Bilateral testicular biopsies revealed marked interstitial lymphatic infiltration. About 33% of the tubules analyzed showed a Sertoli-cell-only (SCO) syndrome and tubular atrophy. Fewer than 4% of tubules showed qualitatively intact spermatogenesis. Autometallographic (AMG) analysis of the biopsy material yielded silver-enhanced mercury grains, primarily in the interstitial Leydig cells. Sections from a control patient not exposed to mercury were devoid of mercury grains.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Histocytochemistry / methods
  • Hormones / analysis
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Male / chemically induced
  • Infertility, Male / diagnosis*
  • Infertility, Male / pathology
  • Leydig Cells / chemistry
  • Leydig Cells / pathology
  • Male
  • Mercury / adverse effects
  • Mercury / analysis*
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Occupational Exposure* / adverse effects
  • Semen / chemistry
  • Testis / chemistry*
  • Testis / pathology

Substances

  • Hormones
  • Mercury