Disruption of sexual function, FSH secretion, and spermiogenesis in rabbits following developmental exposure to vinclozolin, a fungicide

Abstract

We studied sequelae of prenatal plus infantile exposure of male rabbits to vinclozolin, because it is ingested by women and children. Female Dutch-Belted rabbits (7 -10/group) were treated daily per orum from gestation day 15 through post-natal week 4 to provide 0, 7.2, or 72 mg vinclozolin/kg dam's body weight/day. Vinclozolin had no effect on maintenance of pregnancy, growth of pups, age at testicular descent or weight of organs. Concentrations of serum LH or testosterone at 6, 12, or 24 weeks of age were unaffected. However, FSH was lower (P < 0.05) in both vinclozolin groups at all three ages. Following injection of GnRH at 12 or 24 weeks, the increase in FSH was less (P < 0.05) in both vinclozolin groups, as was testosterone at 12 weeks of age. After full sexual maturity, 2 of 7 low dose rabbits were uninterested in female or male teasers and never achieved erection or ejaculation. Overall, rates of ejaculation failure were: control 0% (0/48), low dose 29% (12/42), and high dose 5% (3/60). Daily sperm production per gram of testis and total number of sperm per ejaculate in both vinclozolin groups were similar (P > 0.1) to controls. However, semen from vinclozolin rabbits contained over two times more (P < 0.05) morphologically abnormal spermatozoa, mostly nuclear and acrosomal defects, than semen from controls. Seminiferous tubules with degenerative changes were more frequent (P < 0.05) in vinclozolin rabbits than in controls. Lesions included syncytia of spherical spermatids and desquamation of germ cells. Hence, developmental exposure to vinclozolin caused presumably permanent changes in copulatory ability, secretion of FSH, and spermiogenesis.

Protective Role of Vitamin C and Green Tea Extract on Malathion-Induced Hepatotoxicity and Nephrotoxicity in Rats

“…The similar results were obtained by Veerramachaneni et al, (2006). These results may be due to improper assimilation or metabolism of feed due to enteritis which shown as diarrhea and hepatic lesion (hepatotoxic effects of pesticides).…”

Chronic Dietary Exposure to a Low-Dose Mixture of Genistein and Vinclozolin Modifies the Reproductive Axis, Testis Transcriptome, and Fertility

“…It could also be partly the consequence of the marked effects of vinclozolin on sperm chromatin we reported previously (Auger et al 2004). Prenatal plus infantile exposure of male rabbits to 7.2 mg/kg/day vinclozolin increases the amount of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa, mostly due to nuclear and acrosomal defects (Veeramachaneni et al 2006). These anomalies may result in impairment of the fertilizing ability, embryonic development, or both (Bartoov et al 2001; Sailer et al 1996).…”

Retracted: Effects of exposure to a mobile phone on testicular function and structure in adult rabbit

“…Seminiferous epithelium and interstitium were evaluated using 5‐μm‐thick sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin and counter‐stained with periodic acid Schiff under light microscopy (Nikon FXA light microscope; Nikon). The diameters of 100 randomly selected, essentially round seminiferous tubules from each animal, were estimated and classified into one of eight different grades (Veeramachaneni et al , 2006): grade 0, normal intact seminiferous epithelium; grade 1, seminiferous epithelium with pyknotic cells and desquamation or focal vacuolation; grade 2, seminiferous epithelium intermediate between grades 1 and 3; grade 3, seminiferous epithelium with pre‐meiotic germ cells and Sertoli cells; grade 4, Sertoli cells only; grade 5, no seminiferous epithelium, leaving only the basement membrane; grade 6, seminiferous tubule with sperm stasis, sperm granuloma, or mineralization; and grade 7, fibrotic seminiferous tubule.…”