engleski

Effect of atrazine on reproductive functions in male rat

Chemical agents such as pesticides used in modern agriculture contribute to the overall low-level contamination of groundwater sources, but their increasing production and use contribute a significant amount to pollution of the human environment, with the consequence of an augmented presence in foodstuffs. Certain chemicals interfere with the actions of natural hormones in the body, and can be implicated in harmful effects on endocrine and reproductive systems in both humans and wildlife. Spermatogenesis can be considered to be one of the markers for public health, as the consequence of exposure to various factors originated from the environment. Therefore the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of s-triazine herbicide atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) on male rat reproductive function, as an experimental model, by determining testicular sperm number, epididymal sperm number and motility. Group of animals were treated i.p. with 3, 7.5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 mg atrazine per kg body wt. twice a week over 60 days. Atrazine solutions were prepared in glycerol. Absolute values for epididymal sperm number were already lower in the animals treated with the doses of 3 and 7.5 mg atrazine per kg body weight. Significant differences in epididymal sperm number were found in the groups of animals treated with the doses of 15 to 120 mg per kg body wt. in comparison with the control values. The fall in sperm number extended from 40.6 % to 77.1 % as the dose increased. The dose responded changes in epididymal sperm motility were found in the same groups of animals. The motility decreased for 51.9 % to 96.9 %. Presented results bring additional insight in potential effects of environmental chemicals on public health. Even though atrazine is declared to be a non-toxic herbicide, the exposure to it may present a risk for the reproductive process.

atrazine; sperm count; sperm motility; testis; epididymis

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