Oral lead administration (250 ppm lead acetate through drinking water) to weaning male rats for 70 days resulted in the marked accumulation of this metal in blood and testicular tissue. No marked changes were evident in light microscopy. Ultrastructural changes were revealed in the form of vacuolisation of Sertoli cell cytoplasm and increase in the number and size of lysosomes. Some of the vacuoles contained vesicle like structures. Although there was no impairment of spermatogenesis, the changes in the Sertoli cells may lead to changes in spermatogenesis after chronic exposure.