engleski

Effects of sub-chronic exposure to α-cypermethrine or imidacloprid on oxidative stress and concentration of essential elements in testes and epididymis of adult rats

The use of pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticides has been increasing during the past decade. Although considered as a good alternative to organophosphate pesticides, there are reports indicating their adverse health effects. Our aim was to assess the effects of exposure to low doses of α-cypermethrine or imidacloprid on oxidative stress parameters and concentration of essential elements in testes and epididymis of adult Wistar rats. Rats were orally treated with doses comparable to currently proposed health-based reference values (α-cypermethrine: 0.02 (ADI), 0.15 (OEL), 0.80 (5×OEL) or 2.20 (REL) mg/kg b.w./day ; imidacloprid: 0.06 (ADI), 0.80 (10×AOEL) or 2.25 (1/200 LD50) mg/kg b.w./day) for 28 consecutive days. Exposure to α-cypermethrine or imidacloprid significantly decreased body weight gain in treated groups compared to the controls. The weight of testes was significantly lower in animals treated with the highest dose of imidacloprid, while treatment with α-cypermethrine had no effect on testicular/epididymal weight. Both insecticides significantly increased the level of reduced glutathione in epididymis and the activities of epididymal glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Additionally, treatment with α-cypermethrine increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase in testes at the highest applied dose. A significantly lower concentration of Fe, Mo and Se, and higher concentration of Ca was measured in testicular tissue of animals treated with α-cypermethrine, while treatment with imidacloprid resulted in higher concentration of Mo and Na in testes compared to control animals. The fact that such low doses had the potential to produce measurable biological effects calls for further evaluation of these widely used insecticides.

antioxidative enzymes ; essential elements ; glutathione ; neonicotinoids ; pyrethroids

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