Toxic effects of carbofuran and glyphosate on semen characteristics in rabbits

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of chronic treatment with two sublethal doses of Carbofuran (carbamate insecticide) and Glyphosate (organophosphorus herbicide) on body weight and semen characteristics in mature male New Zealand white rabbits. Pesticide treatment resulted in a decline in body weight, libido, ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, semen initial fructose and semen osmolality. This was accompanied with increases in the abnormal and dead sperm and semen methylene blue reduction time. The hazardous effect of these pesticides on semen quality continued during the recovery period, and was dose-dependent. These effects on sperm quality may be due to the direct cytotoxic effects of these pesticides on spermatogenesis and/or indirectly via hypothalami-pituitary-testis axis which control the reproductive efficiency.

Time- and Dose-Dependent Effects of Roundup on Human Embryonic and Placental Cells

“…This was of particular interest since Roundup and/or glyphosate were suggested to disturb human (Savitz et al 1997) and rat pregnancies (Daruich et al 2001, Beuret et al 2005, mouse kidney (Peluso et al 1998), rabbit spermatogenesis (Yousef et al 1995), and other human tissues (Monroy et al 2005).…”

A New Interpretation of Avian and Mammalian Reproduction Toxicity Test Data in Ecological Risk Assessment

“…Phase 1 -Establishing a breeding territory/site, pairing, and mating Exposure to sub-lethal levels of organochlorine and anticholinesterase insecticides has been shown to alter locomotor activity, orientation ability, food-choice (Snyder, 1974;Bildstein and Forsyth, 1979;Schafer and Bowles 1985;Dell'Omo and Shore, 1996a, b), and can even cause reduction in libido (Yousef et al, 1995).…”

Reproductive Toxicity of Carbofuran to the Female Mice: Effects on Estrous Cycle and Follicles.

“…It has been shown to affect the thyroid system in ewes, resulting in increased thyroxine concentrations 5) . Yousef et al 6) have reported that the carbofuran decreased libido and sperm number in rabbits. The carbamate pesticides also have been recently reported in the induction of gonadal toxicity to female rats after chronic exposure to mancozeb and the administration of the sodium N-methyl dithiocarbamate Industrial Health 2002, 40, 345-352 inhibits the secretion of luteinizing hormone thus affecting the ovulation in rats 7,8) .…”