OXICOLOGICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF INSECTICIDE TRICHLORFON (METRIFONATE) IN ALBINO RATS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MALE FERTILITY

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Forensic medicine and Toxicology Dept., Faculty of Vet. Medicine, Zagazig University

2 Pharmacology Dept., Faculty of Vet. Medicine, Zagazig University

3 Animal Health Research Institute (Banha branch

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to study the adverse effects of organophosphorus insecticide trichlorfon by both therapeutic and toxic doses on albino rats with special reference to male fertility through recording the changes in serum biochemical parameters  as well as the histopathological alterations.
In this study 21 mature male albino rats were divided randomly into three equal groups as follows: the first group was served as a control while the second and the third groups were orally administered trichlorfon by a stomach tube once daily for 65 days at a dose of 8 mg/kg.b.wt(therapeutic dose)&80 mg/kg.b.wt.(toxic dose)respectively. The experimental period extended to 65 days from the 1st day of administration of trichlorfon. At end of experimental period, rats were scarified. Blood samples were collected for separation of the serum for estimating serum levels of testosterone hormone, Leutinizing hormone (L.H), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), total acid phosphatase and prostatic acid phosphatase. Testes, seminal vesicles and prostate glands were dissected and weighed. The cauda epididymis were extracted and prepared for semen analysis. Moreover, tissue specimens were collected from testes, seminal vesicles, prostate glands, liver  and spleen for histopathological investigation.
Rats treated with either therapeutic or toxic dose of trichlorfon showed significant decrease in testicular weights, sperm motility (%), sperm cell concentration and total acid phosphatase levels and significant increase in sperm cell abnormalities (%), LH, AST and ALT levels compared with the control. Rats administered toxic dose of trichlorfon displayed a significant decrease in the seminal vesicle and prostate gland weights and testosterone hormone level compared with the control.
Histopathological findings in testes of rats treated with the therapeutic dose of trichlorfon revealed interstitial edema, congestion and hemorrhage in the testicular tissue. Moreover scanty secretions in some tubulo-alveolar glands with papillary projections of the lining epithelium of the seminal gland together with cystic dilated prostatic acini with scanty secretion. Degenerative changes in the liver and mild lymphoid depletion with few hemosiderosis in the spleen were seen.   The fore mentioned lesion became abundant and intense in rats received toxic dose of the compound.
It could be concluded that, trichlorfon elicited a marked reduction in male fertility by using biochemical parameters, semen analysis as well as the histopathological picture.

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