engleski

Effects of atrazine on semen quality in rat

The decline of semen quality could be linked with exposure to environmental chemicals, such as pesticides, with hormone-disrupting effects that may affect spermatogenesis. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of s-triazine herbicide atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) on male rat reproductive function by determining testicular sperm number, epididymal sperm number and motility and -glucosidase activity. Group of animals were treated i.p. with 30 and 60 mg atrazine per kg body wt. twice a week over 60 days. Atrazine solution was prepared in glycerol. Testicular sperm number (expressed as number of sperm per 500 Sertoli cells) in atrazine-treated animals decreased during the treatment. A statisticaly significant fall in epididymal sperm number was found in both treated groups in comparison with the control. The change in epididymal sperm motility was not dose responded, i.e. treatment with lower atrazine dose brought about the same fall in sperm motility as the higher atrazine dose. -Glucosidase activity (expressed as units per gram of wet tissue or as units per milligram of protein content in epididymis, where one unit corresponds to one nanomole of p-nitrophenol liberated per hour) was significantly lower (p < 0.05 vs. control) in the group treated with the higher dose of atrazine. According to the results obtained, it is evident that atrazine has a toxic effect on spermatogenesis.

atrazine; semen quality; sperm number and motility; rat

nije evidentirano