Acute testicular toxicity induced by melamine alone or a mixture of melamine and cyanuric acid in mice.

•We for the first time demonstrated the acute testicular toxicity of melamine (MA) alone or melamine–cyanuric acid mixture (MC) in mice.•MA and MC caused testicular and epididymal lesions and increased sperm abnormality.•MA and MC caused disruption of blood–testis barrier.•MA and MC induced germ cell apoptosis.•MA and MC collapsed Sertoli cell vimentin filaments.