Activities of various 6-chloro-6-deoxysugars and (S) alpha-chlorohydrin in producing spermatocoeles in rats and paralysis in mice and in inhibiting glucose metabolism in bull spermatozoa in vitro.

6-Chloro-6-deoxyglucose, 6-chloro-6-deoxymannose, 6-chloro-6-deoxy-fructose, 6-chloro-6-deoxyglucitol, 6-chloro-6-deoxygalactose and (S) alpha-chlorohydrin all produced spermatocoeles in the ductuli efferentes and epididymis of the rat and were neurotoxic in the mouse, but only alpha-chlorohydrin caused substantial inhibition of glucose metabolism in bull spermatozoa in vitro. The relative potencies of the compounds in producing spermatocoeles reflected their activities as reversible antifertility agents in the rat but compared to the others 6-chloro-6-deoxymannose was considerably less neurotoxic to mice than might have been anticipated from its contraceptive dose. Thus different metabolites may be responsible for causing the antifertility and the neurotoxic effects.