Effects of propoxur on male fertility in wistar rat exposed neonatally

Authors

  • Augustave Kenfack Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Animal Physiology, University of Dschang, Po Box 188 Dschang-Cameroon
  • Ferdinand Ngoula Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Animal Physiology, University of Dschang, Po Box 188 Dschang-Cameroon
  • Judith K. Chombong Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Animal Physiology, University of Dschang, Po Box 188 Dschang-Cameroon
  • Narcisse B. Vemo Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Animal Physiology, University of Dschang, Po Box 188 Dschang-Cameroon
  • Julius A. Ndukum School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ngaoundéré, Ngaoundéré-Cameroon
  • Omer B. Ngouateu Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory of Animal Physiology, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé-Cameroun
  • Guylène MZ. Zeukeng Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Animal Physiology, University of Dschang, Po Box 188 Dschang-Cameroon

Keywords:

Propoxur, Reproductive organs, Cauda epididymis counts, Cauda epididymis sperm motility, Fertility

Abstract

Background: Propoxur is a carbamate pesticide widely used in crop and foodstuff protection. They are known to cause a wide variety of symptoms in animals.  

Methods: Twenty four young male rats were exposed to 0.00, 1.73, 2.60 and 5.20 mg/kg body weight through oral intubation for 90 days.  

Results: The testis weight increased significantly (P <0.05) in propoxur-treated animals when compared to the control. The epididymal sperm counts increased not significantly (P >0.05) but the percentage of sperm motility decreased significantly (P <0.05) in propoxur-gavaged males. Histopathological examination revealed the disorganisation of seminiferous epithelia with the loss of germ cells in some gavaged rats. The fertility rate did not vary dose dependently and no significant (P >0.05) change was observed between the control and treated males for the litter size, viability rate and sex-ratio.  

Conclusions: Despite the impairment of seminal epithelia and sperm characteristics, male rats orally exposed to the studied doses of propoxur maintained their fertility at the 90th day of treatment.

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Published

2017-02-10

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 4 (2014): October-December 2014

Section

Original Research Articles