Assessment of male reproductive system in the CD-1 mice following oral manganese exposure

Manganese has wide industrial applications and exposure to manganese can result in serious health conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the reproductive effect of oral manganese exposure in male mice. Manganese acetate was tested at three dose levels (7.5, 15.0, and 30.0 mg/kg/day) for 43 days. The control group (0 mg/kg/day) received distilled water. Control negative group did not receive anything. Reproductive organ weights were recorded. Histopathology was performed on right testis, epididymis, seminal vesicle, and the accessory glands. Cauda epididymal, testicular sperm counts, and sperm motility was evaluated on the organ from the left side. The results of this study suggest that exposure to manganese caused a statistically significant (P < 0.001) decrease in sperm motility and sperm counts at 15.0 and 30.0 mg/kg/day. There were no alterations in the fertility or pathology of the testicular tissue in the manganese-treated mice when compared with the controls.