title: Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effects of Acephate on Human Sperm.
abstract: Extensive use of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) could alter semen quality and sperm DNA at different stages of spermatogenesis. Acephate is a highly toxic extensively used OP and, therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effects of acephate on human semen quality and sperm DNA integrity. Sperm collected from healthy males were exposed to 0, 50, 100, and 200μg/mL of acephate and incubated for 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h. Subsequently, sperm motility, vitality, functional integrity of plasma membrane, sperm capacitation, and DNA damage were examined. Result showed a significant decline of the motility at 100μg/mL after 3 h and with 200μg/mL after 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h. Viability was significantly reduced at 200μg/mL after 2 h and 3 h. Functional integrity was significantly affected at 100μg/mL after 3h and in 200μg/mL dose after 2 h and 3h. Similarly, sperm capacitation was significantly affected at 200μg/mL after 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h and at 100μg/mL at 3 h. DNA damage was significantly increased only in 200μg/mL dose after 3 h. The study suggests that exposure to acephate may result in alterations of sperm structure and function thus contributing towards deteriorating in human semen quality triggering infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Center for Biotechnology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: M A Thamali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dhanushka
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Center for Biotechnology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: L Dinithi C
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4788-6852
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Peiris