title: Effects of pirimiphos-methyl (an organophosphate insecticide) on the fertility of adult male rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Organophosphate insecticides represent one of the most widely used classes of pesticides with high potential for human exposure in both rural and residential environments.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we investigated the effects of pirimiphos-methyl (0, 2-diethylamino-6-methylpirimidin-4-yl O, O-dimethyl phosphorothioate), an organophosphothioate pesticide, on male rat reproductive performances.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 24 adult Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 6 animals each and orally treated with 0, 41.67, 62.5 or 125 mg/kg of pirimiphos-methyl for 90 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results from the study showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in feed consumption, body weight gain, relative testis and epidiydimis weights and intra-testicular cholesterol level in rats receiving the test substance at doses of 62.5 or 125 mg/kg whereas a significant decrease (p<0.05) in serum total protein, sperm density and motility, fertility and parturition indices and pups sex-ratio (M/F) was recorded in animals treated with 125 mg/Kg of pirimiphos methyl. Histological findings also indicated enlargement of interstitial space, inhibition of spermatogenesis, rarefaction of Leydig cells and oedema in testes compared to control animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It could then be concluded that pirimiphos-methyl (62.5 and 125 mg/kg) is detrimental to the reproductive potentials of male rats.
authors.affiliation: University of Dschang, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Productions, Dschang, Cameroon. fngoula@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ngoula
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Watcho
authors.forename: Marie-Chantal
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Dongmo
authors.forename: Augustave
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kenfack
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kamtchouing
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tchoumboué
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000139:chemically induced; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; C014153:pirimiphos methyl