A direct effect of α‐chlorohydrin on rat epididymal spermatozoa

The effect of α‐chlorohydrin (α‐CH) on rat epididymal spermatozoa was studied in vivo and in vitro. α‐CH was injected sc in doses of 5 and 20 mg daily for 16 days. The 20 mg dose resulted in diminished epididymal spermatozoal content (8 pL 4 vs. 44 pL 5 million, m pL SE, n = 5) and motility (13 pL 7 vs. 74 pL 4%) as compared to saline injected‐controls. Fertility rates were significantly reduced; control‐100% (5/5), 5 mg ‐ 25% (1/4), 20 mg ‐ 0% (0/4). a‐CH was added to suspensions of spermatozoa in vitro and a level of 132 μg ml depressed motility by 90% (P < 0.0001) and O₂ consumption by 40% (P < 0.05). Intrauterine insemination of in vitro treated spermatozoa was performed in 61 pro‐oestrous rats. α‐CH treated spermatozoa (from 5.3 to 26.400 μg/ml) were found to be completely infertile compared to untreated spermatozoa which showed a 63% fertility rate. There was almost complete absence of oocytes in the flushed ampullas of recipients of α‐CH treated sperm, in the lowest dose which did not affect sperm motility. Thus, α‐CH has direct effect upon spermatozoal function and also has a possible effect on the female reproductive tract.