title: Evaluation of the reproductive toxicity of fungicide propiconazole in male rats.
abstract: The propiconazole (Prop) is a fungicide extensively used in agriculture. There are evidences that this compound may cause endocrine disrupting effects. In vitro studies have demonstrated that Prop inhibits the activity of CYP 19 (aromatase), responsible for converting androgens into estrogens and also is an androgen and estrogen receptor antagonist. Therefore, this study evaluated the reproductive toxicity of Prop treatment in male rats. The Wistar rats were divided in three groups and were treated daily, by gavage, with corn oil (control group), propiconazole 4 mg/kg (Prop 4) and 20 mg/kg (Prop 20), from post-natal day 50 to 120. The following were observed: the body weight gain, sexual behavior, testosterone and estradiol plasmatic levels, organs weight, sperm count and morphology and testicular histomorphology. There was an increase in abnormal tail morphology sperm, seminal vesicle and vas deferens weight, and a decrease in estradiol levels in Prop 4 group. Sexual behavior was affected only in the Prop 20 group. These results suggest that Prop treatment induced alterations in some reproductive parameters, what could be related with an endocrine disruption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86051-980 Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nathália Orlandini
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86051-980 Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Milene Leivas
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86051-980 Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sgarioni
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86051-980 Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marina Rangel F
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86051-980 Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Garcia
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Montagnini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, State University of Londrina, 86051-980 Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Suzana de Fátima Paccola
authors.initials: Sde F
authors.lastname: Mesquita
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, State University of Londrina, 86051-980 Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: dcgerardin@uel.br.
authors.forename: Daniela Cristina Ceccatto
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Gerardin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014230:Triazoles / Q000633:toxicity*; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D014230:Triazoles; C045950:propiconazole; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol
keywords: Endocrine disrupter; Male rat; Propiconazole; Reproductive