Sperm quality in mice acutely treated with parathion.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the toxic effect of a single injection of the organophosphorous agropesticide, parathion, on spermatogenesis in immature male mice.


METHODS
Seven-day old mice received a single injection of parathion intraperitoneally at a dose of 1/3 LD50. The epididymal sperm count, sperm morphology and chromatin thermal stability were analyzed 28 and 50 days after injection.


RESULTS
Sperm counts were decreased and teratozoospermia and thermal denaturation of DNA increased after parathion injection. Sperm parameters were changed to a greater extent in younger animals, denoting a higher lability of spermatogenic process at its beginning. The damages could recover a long time after parathion administration.


CONCLUSIONS
Organophosphorous agropesticides are testicular toxicants, eliciting reversible cytotoxic and cytogenetic alterations in germ cells.
Sobarzo
C
C
Faculty of Basic Sciences, Catholic University of Temuco and Biology of Reproduction Unit, Program of Morphology, ICBM, Santiago, Chile.
Bustos-Obregón
E
E
D000818:Animals; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010278:Parathion / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*
D007306:Insecticides; D010278:Parathion