Effects of Pirimiphos-methyl (An Organophosphate Insecticide) on the Fertility of Adult Male Rats

Organophosphate insecticides represent one of the most widely used classes of pesticides with high potential for human exposure in both rural and residential environments. In the present study, we investigated the effects of pirimiphos-methyl (0, 2-diethylamino-6-methylpirimidin-4-yl O, O-dimethyl p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAfrican health sciences Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 3 - 9
Main Authors Ngoula, Ferdinand, Watcho, Pierre, Dongmo, Marie-Chantal, Kenfack, Augustave, Kamtchouing, Pierre, Tchoumbou, Joseph
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Uganda Makerere University Medical School 01.03.2007
Makerere Medical School
Subjects
Animals
Environmental Exposure - adverse effects
fertility
Infertility, Male - chemically induced
Insecticides - adverse effects
Insecticides - blood
Male
male rats
Oligospermia - chemically induced
Organothiophosphorus Compounds - adverse effects
Organothiophosphorus Compounds - blood
Original
pirimiphos-methyl
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Sperm Motility
spermatogenesis
Testis - pathology
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Summary:Organophosphate insecticides represent one of the most widely used classes of pesticides with high potential for human exposure in both rural and residential environments. In the present study, we investigated the effects of pirimiphos-methyl (0, 2-diethylamino-6-methylpirimidin-4-yl O, O-dimethyl phosphorothioate), an organophosphothioate pesticide, on male rat reproductive performances. A total of 24 adult Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 6 animals each and orally treated with 0, 41.67, 62.5 or 125 mg/kg of pirimiphos-methyl for 90 days. Results from the study showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in feed consumption, body weight gain, relative testis and epidiydimis weights and intra-testicular cholesterol level in rats receiving the test substance at doses of 62.5 or 125 mg/kg whereas a significant decrease (p<0.05) in serum total protein, sperm density and motility, fertility and parturition indices and pups sex-ratio (M/F) was recorded in animals treated with 125 mg/Kg of pirimiphos methyl. Histological findings also indicated enlargement of interstitial space, inhibition of spermatogenesis, rarefaction of Leydig cells and oedema in testes compared to control animals. It could then be concluded that pirimiphos-methyl (62.5 and 125 mg/kg) is detrimental to the reproductive potentials of male rats.
ISSN:1680-6905
1729-0503