open access

Vol 65, No 1 (2006)
Original article
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2005-12-05
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Dermal exposure to the herbicide-paraquat results in genotoxic and cytotoxic damage to germ cells in the male rat

U.J.A. D’Souza, K. Narayana, A. Zain, S. Raju, H.M. Nizam, O. Noriah
Folia Morphol 2006;65(1):6-10.

open access

Vol 65, No 1 (2006)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2005-12-05

Abstract

The effects of exposure to low doses of paraquat, a herbicide, via the dermal route were studied on the spermatozoa of Sprague-Dawley rats. Paraquat (1, 1’-dimethyl-4, 4’-bipyridinium dichloride) was administered once a day for five days, at intervals of 24 h at 0, 6, 15 and 30 mg/kg, and the rats were sacrificed on days 7, 14, 28, and 42 after the last exposure. The sperm suspensions were obtained by mincing the caudae epididymes and ductus deferens for the purpose of performing a sperm morphology test, sperm count and analysis of sperm mortality and sperm motility, as per the standard procedures. The sperm count was decreased (p < 0.05) only on days 7 and 14 but sperm abnormalities increased on all days (p < 0.05). Sperm mortality increased at higher dose-levels (p < 0.05) except on day 42, and motility was affected by 30 mg/kg only on day 42. In conclusion, paraquat is a genotoxic and cytotoxic agent to germ cells in the male rat.

Abstract

The effects of exposure to low doses of paraquat, a herbicide, via the dermal route were studied on the spermatozoa of Sprague-Dawley rats. Paraquat (1, 1’-dimethyl-4, 4’-bipyridinium dichloride) was administered once a day for five days, at intervals of 24 h at 0, 6, 15 and 30 mg/kg, and the rats were sacrificed on days 7, 14, 28, and 42 after the last exposure. The sperm suspensions were obtained by mincing the caudae epididymes and ductus deferens for the purpose of performing a sperm morphology test, sperm count and analysis of sperm mortality and sperm motility, as per the standard procedures. The sperm count was decreased (p < 0.05) only on days 7 and 14 but sperm abnormalities increased on all days (p < 0.05). Sperm mortality increased at higher dose-levels (p < 0.05) except on day 42, and motility was affected by 30 mg/kg only on day 42. In conclusion, paraquat is a genotoxic and cytotoxic agent to germ cells in the male rat.
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Keywords

herbicides; pesticides; sperm abnormality; sperm count; sperm mortality; testicular function

About this article
Title

Dermal exposure to the herbicide-paraquat results in genotoxic and cytotoxic damage to germ cells in the male rat

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 65, No 1 (2006)

Article type

Original article

Pages

6-10

Published online

2005-12-05

Page views

557

Article views/downloads

1424

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2006;65(1):6-10.

Keywords

herbicides
pesticides
sperm abnormality
sperm count
sperm mortality
testicular function

Authors

U.J.A. D’Souza
K. Narayana
A. Zain
S. Raju
H.M. Nizam
O. Noriah

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