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Individual and combined effect of chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin on reproductive system of adult male albino rats

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Abstract

Commercial mixtures of chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin pesticides are widely used to enhance the toxic effects of cypermethrin on target insects. So, the purpose of the current study was to evaluate the individual and combined toxic effects of chlorpyrifos (CPF) and cypermethrin (CYP) on reproductive system of adult male albino rats. Forty adult male albino rats were randomized into main four groups: group I (control group) included 16 rats, subdivided into negative and positive control; group II (eight rats) received chlorpyrifos 6.75 mg/kg b.w./orally∕daily); group III (eight rats) (received cypermethrin 12.5 mg/kg b.w./orally∕daily); and group IV (eight rats) (received chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin at the same previously mentioned doses). All treatments were given by oral gavage for 12 weeks. We found that single CPF and CYP exposures significantly have adverse effects on reproductive function of adult male albino rats manifested by reduced testicular weight, decreased sperm count, motility and viability, significantly increased percent of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa, and significant increments in sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) with respect to control group. Furthermore, serum follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone levels were decreased significantly compared to control group. This was accompanied with histopathological changes in the testis of rats such as necrosis, degeneration, decreasing number of spermatogenic cells in some seminiferous tubules, edema, congested blood vessels, and exudate in interstitial tissue of the testis. Notably, all these changes were exaggerated in rats treated concomitantly with chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin rendering the mixture more toxic than the additive effects of each compound and causing greater damage on the reproductive system of male albino rats than the individual pesticides.

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Acknowledgments

Sincere appreciation is expressed to Prof./Dr. Mai Samir for her valuable guidance and to all members in the Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department for their encouragement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Eman Ahmad Alaa-Eldin

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Dalia Abdallah El-Shafei

  3. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Nehal S. Abouhashem

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  1. Eman Ahmad Alaa-Eldin
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  2. Dalia Abdallah El-Shafei
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  3. Nehal S. Abouhashem
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Correspondence to Eman Ahmad Alaa-Eldin.

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The experiment was carried out in compliance with the “Guide of the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” (Clark et al., 1996) and the institutional guidelines for the care and use of experimental animals approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committee of Zagazig University, Egypt.

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Alaa-Eldin, E.A., El-Shafei, D.A. & Abouhashem, N.S. Individual and combined effect of chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin on reproductive system of adult male albino rats. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 1532–1543 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7912-6

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