title: Absence of effects on the rat sperm quality after subacute exposure to low doses of fungicide prochloraz.
abstract: Prochloraz (PCZ) is a fungicide and androgen-receptor antagonist used worldwide in horticulture and agriculture. Pre- and perinatal exposure to this pesticide during sexual differentiation is deleterious for male offspring. Since data on the effects of PCZ on epididymal functions are scarce, and because sperm maturation occurs in this organ, the present investigation aimed to determine whether low PCZ doses administered to rats during the phase of sperm transit through the epididymis might affect the morphophysiology of this organ and sperm quality. Adult male Wistar rats were assigned to 4 different groups: 0 (control, vehicle) or 10, 15, or 30 mg/kg bw/d PCZ diluted in corn oil administered orally for 4 consecutive days. Morphofunctional parameters of the male reproductive tract, hormone concentrations, sperm evaluations, and fertility and histopathologic analysis of testis and epididymis were assessed. There were no statistically significant differences between treated and control groups in relation to all evaluated parameters. Data demonstrated show that PCZ exposure for a brief 4-d exposure and low doses did not produce reproductive toxicity or compromise sperm quality in adult rats.
authors: a Laboratory of Reproductive and Developmental Biology and Toxicology, Department of Morphology , Institute of Biosciences, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista , Botucatu , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors: Marciana
authors: M
authors: Sanabria
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Pessin
authors: Mirella Rossitto
authors: MR
authors: Zanutto
authors: Juliana Elaine
authors: JE
authors: Perobelli
authors: Marina Trevizan
authors: MT
authors: Guerra
authors: Thais Petrochelli
authors: TP
authors: Banzato
authors: Cibele dos Santos
authors: Cdos S
authors: Borges
authors: Wilma De Grava
authors: Wde G
authors: Kempinas
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D007315:Insemination, Artificial; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D059551:Toxicity Tests, Subacute
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D007093:Imidazoles; C045362:prochloraz