This study was conducted to examine the effect of 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126) on morphological changes in the developing rat testis. PCB 126 (0.2㎎/㎏/week) in corn oil was weekly i.p. injected into rats from 1 to 11 weeks old. The total body weights and testicular weights were measured at 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks, respectively. The morphological changes in the rat testes were then analyzed by light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results demonstrated that PCB 126 treatment caused significant change in the ratio of testicular weight/body weight at 9 week. The treatment of PCB increased the number of pregonium cells at 3 week and it decreased spermatogenesis of the seminiferous tubules at 6 week. The results of this study suggest that PCB 126 can damage the male reproductive organ of the growing rat and that it might be associated with retardation of development of the testis.

Nicotine(2~15mg/kg 2주간, 100mg/kg 회 투여)을 생후 4개월령 수컷 생쥐에 투여한 후, 고환에 미치는 광학현미경적 소견은 다음과 같다. 1. Nicotine 2mg/kg 투여군에서는 정세관과 정세관 주위의 Leydig 세포도 핵과 세포질이 뚜렷한 정상적인 소견을 나타내었으나, 5 mg/kg 투여군에서는 Leydig 세포의 핵과 세포질이 다소 비후되었으며, 염색정도가 약하였다. 2. 10 mg/kg 투여군은 대부분 정세관내의 정자발