Potassium Dichromate Exposure and Sperm Quality in Rats: A Multi-Generational Study

This study evaluated the effects of potassium dichromate on sperm quality and testicular histopathology across three generations of male rats. Animals received potassium dichromate in drinking water at 25, 50, or 75 mg/L, while controls received chromium-free water. Exposure was maintained across generations, and sperm quality and testicular histopathology were assessed. Cr(VI) exposure impaired sperm quality in a dose- and generation-dependent manner. The most pronounced effects occurred in the F2 generation at 75 mg/L, where sperm concentration decreased by approximately 31.35%, total motility by 66.79%, and progressive motility by 84.5% compared with controls. Morphological abnormalities increased from 9.86% in F2 controls to 63.43% in F2-E3 animals and involved the head, neck, and tail regions. Histopathological alterations also increased with dose and generation, with the testicular injury score increasing from 0.64 in F2 controls to 3.71 in F2-E3 animals, while the Johnsen score decreased from 9.65 in F2 controls to 6.54 in F2-E3 animals. Testicular lesions included seminiferous epithelium disorganisation, germ and Sertoli cell loss, germ cell detachment, Leydig cell degeneration, and defective spermiation. Overall, the greatest sperm and testicular alterations occurred in F2 animals, indicating cumulative multigenerational reproductive toxicity following Cr(VI) exposure.