engleski

Atrazine induced a fall of sperm numbers and epididymal sperm motility in the rat: study of neuroendocrine mechanisms

Herbicides, used in agriculture contribute on the low level contamination of groundwater sources, but increasing production and use, significantly contribute to pollution of the environment with presence also in food-stuffs. Spermatogenesis is considered to be one of the markers for public health, as a consequence of exposure to various factors originated from the environment. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if s-triazine herbicide atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-s-triazine) after i.p. treatment with 0.4 ml of atrazine solution, twice a week over 60 days, induce testicular sperm number and epididymal sperm motility in the 90 days old rats. Animals were treated with 3, 7.5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 mg per kg body weight of atrazine solutions prepared in glicerol. The pituitaries, testes and epididymides were removed and weighed after sacrifice and examined by light and electron microscopy. Sperm numbers, expressed as number of sperm per 500 Sertoli cells, were already lower in the groups (seven animals at each group) treated with only 3 or 7.5 mg per kg b.w.. Significant differences have been present at all higher concentrations, where the fall of sperm number decreased up to 77% with the reduction of motility from 96%. Pituitaries of treated rats showed increased amount of FSH secreting cells for 70% and decreased LH cells for 25%. Histopatological changes of pituitaries were characterized by proliferative changes and cell vacuolization. Ultrastructural examinations of testes reveal a number of macrophages within the tubular lumen and between early spermatids. Sertoli and Leydig cells showed ultrastructural changes probably due to toxic effects on the CNS as well as peripheral target tissues. This data point out that more attention should be paid to the possible effects of atrazine-like compounds, because they can induce marked changes at the intracellular level of reproductive tissues.

reproductive toxicology; atrazine; spermatogenesis; LH and FSH secretion

nije evidentirano