Leydig cell number and sperm production decrease induced by chronic ametryn exposure: a negative impact on animal reproductive health

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2015-06, Vol.22 (11), p.8526-8535
• Main Authors: Dantas, T. A, Cancian, G, Neodini, D. N. R, Mano, D. R. S, Capucho, C, Predes, F. S, Pulz, R. Barbieri, Pigoso, A. A, Dolder, H, Severi-Aguiar, G. D. C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adults; Agricultural pollution; Agriculture; ametryn; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biometry; Body Weights and Measures; Brazil; catalase; Catalase - metabolism; Cell Count; Chronic toxicity; cobalt; Cytotoxicity; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; grass weeds; Herbicides; Herbicides - toxicity; Leydig cells; Leydig Cells - drug effects; Leydig Cells - physiology; lipid peroxidation; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Male; males; Morphology; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Peroxidation; proteins; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reproduction; Reproduction - drug effects; Reproductive health; reproductive performance; reproductive toxicology; Research Article; Sperm; Spermatogenesis - drug effects; spermatozoa; Spermatozoa - drug effects; Spermatozoa - physiology; Studies; Sugarcane; superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Toxicity; Triazines - toxicity; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-4010-5

Ametryn is an herbicide used to control broadleaf and grass weeds and its acute and chronic toxicity is expected to be low. Since toxicological data on ametryn is scarce, the aim of this study was to evaluate rat reproductive toxicity. Thirty-six adult male Wistar rats (90 days) were divided into three groups: Co (control) and T1 and T2 exposed to 15 and 30 mg/kg/day of ametryn, respectively, for 56 days. Testicular analysis demonstrated that ametryn decreased sperm number per testis, daily sperm production, and Leydig cell number in both treated groups, although little perceptible morphological change has been observed in seminiferous tubule structure. Lipid peroxidation was higher in group T2, catalase activity decreased in T1 group, superoxide dismutase activity diminished, and a smaller number of sulphydryl groups of total proteins were verified in both exposed groups, suggesting oxidative stress. These results showed negative ametryn influence on the testes and can compromise animal reproductive performance and survival.