Effect of phosalone on testicular tissue and in vitro fertilizing potential.
BACKGROUND
The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of phosalone (PLN) as an organophosphate (OP) compound on testicular tissue, hormonal alterations and embryo development in rats.


METHODS
In this experimental study, we divided 18 mature Wistar rats into three groups-control, control-sham and test (n=6 per group). Animals in the test group received one-fourth the lethal dose (LD50) of PLN (150 mg/kg), orally, once per day for 45 days. DNA laddering and epi-fluorescent analyses were performed to evaluate testicular DNA fragmentation and RNA damage, respectively. Serum levels of testosterone and inhibin-B (IN-B) were evaluated. Testicular levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total thiol molecules (TTM) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) were analyzed. Finally, we estimated sperm parameters and effect of PLN on embryo development. Two-way ANOVA was used for statistical analyses.


RESULTS
There was severe DNA fragmentation and RNA damage in testicular tissue of animals that received PLN. PLN remarkably (p<0.05) decreased testicular TAC, TTM and GSH-px levels. Animals that received PLN exhibited significantly (p<0.05) decreased serum levels of testosterone and IN-B. Reduced sperm count, viability, motility, chromatin condensation and elevated sperm DNA damage were observed in the test group rats. PLN resulted in significant (p<0.05) reduction of in vitro fertilizing (IVF) potential and elevated embryonic degeneration.


CONCLUSIONS
PLN reduced fertilization potential and embryo development were attributed to a cascade of impacts on the testicles and sperm. PLN promoted its impact by elevating DNA and RNA damages via down-regulation of testicular endocrine activity and antioxidant status.
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran.
Amir
A
Amniattalab
Department of Comparative Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
Mazdak
M
Razi
DNA Fragmentation; In Vitro Fertilization; Phosalone; Sperm; Testicular Tissue