Reproductive Potential of Male Rats Fed Dietary Ethylene Dibromide

Abstract

Ethylene dibromide (EDB), a grain fumigant, has been assessed for its toxic effects when fed to growing albino rats at 50, 100, 250 and 500 ppm in the diet for 90 days. Weekly body weight gain showed no effect on growth. Organ weights were normal and no histopathological lesions were observed in the liver, kidney, lungs, brain, spleen, adrenal gland, and the testis. Activities of the serum enzymes, viz., GOT, GPT, LDH and alkaline phosphatase were not affected. EDB fed male rats when mated with normal female rats showed no impairment in their reproductive performance.