title: Occupational exposure to organophosphate and carbamate pesticides affects sperm chromatin integrity and reproductive hormone levels among Venezuelan farm workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several reports suggest that chronic pesticide exposure may affect semen quality and male fertility in humans. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between occupational exposure to organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CB) pesticides and semen quality, as well as levels of reproductive and thyroid hormones of Venezuelan farm workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five healthy men (unexposed group) and 64 male agricultural workers (exposed group) were recruited for clinical evaluation of fertility status. Fresh semen samples were evaluated for sperm quality and analyzed for DNA fragmentation index (DFI) by flow cytometry. Pesticide exposure was assessed by measuring erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) with a Test-mate ChE field kit. Serum levels of total testosterone (Tt), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) were analyzed using enzyme immunoassay kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evidence of pesticide exposure was found in 87.5% of farmers based on AChE and BuChE inhibition. Significant increments were observed in sperm DFI with significant decreases in some semen parameters. DFI was negatively correlated with BuChE, sperm concentration, morphology and vitality in these workers. The levels of Tt, PRL, FT4 and TSH appeared to be normal; however, there was a tendency for increased LH and FSH levels in exposed workers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirm the potential impact of chronic occupational exposure to OP/CB pesticides on male reproductive function, which may cause damage to sperm chromatin, decrease semen quality and produce alterations in reproductive hormones, leading to adverse reproductive health outcomes.
authors: Electron Microscopy Center "Dr. Ernesto Palacios Prü", University of Los Andes.
authors: Leticia
authors: L
authors: Miranda-Contreras
authors: Roald
authors: R
authors: Gómez-Pérez
authors: Gerardo
authors: G
authors: Rojas
authors: Ibis
authors: I
authors: Cruz
authors: Lisbeth
authors: L
authors: Berrueta
authors: Siham
authors: S
authors: Salmen
authors: Melisa
authors: M
authors: Colmenares
authors: Silvio
authors: S
authors: Barreto
authors: Alirio
authors: A
authors: Balza
authors: Leisalba
authors: L
authors: Zavala
authors: Yasmin
authors: Y
authors: Morales
authors: Yuri
authors: Y
authors: Molina
authors: Lenin
authors: L
authors: Valeri
authors: Carlos A
authors: CA
authors: Contreras
authors: Jesús A
authors: JA
authors: Osuna
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood; D002219:Carbamates / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015438:Health Behavior; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000097:blood; D011897:Random Allocation; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014687:Venezuela; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002219:Carbamates; D002843:Chromatin; D010755:Organophosphates; D010575:Pesticides; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior; D013739:Testosterone; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase