title: Reproductive and possible hormonal effects of carbendazim.
abstract: This study aimed to better elucidate reproductive and possible hormonal effects of the fungicide carbendazim (CBZ) through a review of published toxicological studies as well as an evaluation of this fungicide in the Hershberger and uterotrophic assays, which are designed to detect in vivo effects of the sex hormones. The literature review indicates that CBZ induces reproductive and developmental toxicity through alteration of many key events which are important to spermatogenesis. The lower dose of CBZ (100mg/kg) evaluated in the Hershberger test increased prostate weight compared to control group but did not alter the weight of other testosterone-dependent tissues. In the uterotrophic assay, CBZ did not induce an estrogenic or an antiestrogenic effect. In the literature, it has been reported that CBZ may: (1) alter the levels of various hormones (testosterone, LH, FSH, GnRH); (2) negatively influence testicular steroidogenesis; (3) have androgenic effects acting directly in the androgenic receptors and/or increasing the expression of androgen receptors. Despite the contradictory results reported by the different studies that investigated a possible endocrine mode of action of CBZ, it seems that this fungicide may influence the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis in addition to being a testicular toxicant.
authors.affiliation: Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elkiane Macedo
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Rama
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina (UEL), Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bortolan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina (UEL), Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Milene Leivas
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina (UEL), Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela Cristina Ceccatto
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Gerardin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina (UEL), Londrina, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: egmoreira@uel.br.
authors.forename: Estefania Gastaldello
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Moreira
mesh_terms: D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002219:Carbamates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000009:adverse effects; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D002219:Carbamates; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D006728:Hormones; C006698:carbendazim
keywords: Carbendazim; Developmental toxicity; Endocrine disruption; Reproductive toxicity