Gestational Exposure to Chromium Alters the Histoarchitecture of Adult Rat Testis: a Light Microscopic Study

Heavy metals and chemicals are known to cause male infertility. Chromium, an occupational heavy metal pollutant is a wellknown carcinogen with toxic effect on skin, lung and kidney. A few early reports point out the reproductive toxicity of chromium in experimental animals. An extensive study conducted in our laboratory in adult rats and monkeys established that altered prooxidant - antioxidant balance leading to free radical toxicity in the testis as the mechanism underlying the reproductive toxicity of chromium.