Studies on the mechanism of action of alpha-monochlorohydrin

After a single oral dose of 100 mg/kg of alpha-chlorohydrine, two distinct phases in the response of the testes to the treatment have been observed: (i) the immediate onset of testicular swelling lasting up to five days, accompanied with a steady increase in the weight of the testes and (ii) thereafter a constant decrease in the testes weight. Changes in the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and the thickness of the basement membrane were observed after the administration of the drug. Multinucleated giant cells were encountered 5 days after drug administration. Alkaline phosphatase, SDH, nucleic acids and proteins showed a fall after treatment with the drug. On the contrary, cholesterol, phospholipids and glycogen showed an increase after its administration. Acid phosphatase showed a fall in the initial stages only, but the activity was higher after 10, 20 and 40 days of the treatment with the drug.

The level of plasma and testes testosterone remained normal after chlorohydrin administration. The induction of lesions in hypophysectomised gonadotropin-stimulated animals suggests that the action of chlorohydrin is not mediated through gonadotropins. Alphachlorohydrin administered intratesticularly did not evoke any changes in the histo-architecture of the testis.