Abstract
In the present study, penconazole fungicide was examined for its affect on the morphology and function of testes in rats. Male rats were orally administered penconazole at a dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg, three times/week, for 9 months. Testosterone hormone level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Testicles were submitted for histopathological examination using light microscope. Testicles were exposed for more investigation using transmission electron microscope. Quantitative analysis of seminiferous epithelial cycle and Leydig cells were obtained. The results revealed that a significant decrease in testosterone hormone level than the control group. Light microscope examination showed necrotic and degenerative changes in testes at the level of seminiferous tubules. Sertoli, Leydig, and germ cell numbers showed significant depletion. Ultrastructural investigation showed Sertoli and Leydig cells had several morphological alterations. Spermatogonic cells showed multiple features of apoptosis. From the previous findings, we concluded that penconazole fungicide induced structural and functional testicular impairment. The use of penconazole as a fungicide must be restricted and regularly monitored in the environment.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bancroft JD, Stevens A (1982) Theory and practice of histological techniques (2nd ed). Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, pp 113–114
Bhasin S, Sikka S, Fielder T, Sod-Morian U, Levine HB, Swerdloff RS, Rajfer J (1986) Hormonal effects of ketoconazole in vivo in the male rat: mechanism of action. Endocrinology 118(3):1229–1232
Bicchi C, Cordero C, Rubiolo P (2001) Simultaneous determination of six triazolic pesticides residues in apple and pear pulps by liquid chromatography with ultraviolet diode array detection. J AOAC Int 84(5):1543–1550
Capel B (2000) The battle of the sexes. Mech Dev 92:89–103
Carlton WW, McGavin MD (1995) Thomson’s special veterinary pathology, 2nd edn. Mosby, St. Louis, pp 27–29
Clermont Y (1972) Kinetics of spermatogenesis in mammals: seminiferous epithelium cycle and spermatogonial renewal. Physiol Rev 52:198–236
FAO/WHO (1991) Pesticide residues in food: 1991 evaluation. Part 1, paper 113/1. Residues. FAO plant production and protection
FAO/WHO (1998) The WHO recommended classification of pesticides by hazard and guidelines to classification 1997–1998 (WHO/PCS/90.1). Available from the international program on chemical safety, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Franca LR, Hass RA, Cooke PS, Russell LD (1995) Neonatal hypothyroidism causes delayed Sertoli cell maturation in rats treated with prophylthiour acyl: evidence that the Sertoli cell controls testis growth. Anat Rec 242:57–69
Franca LR, Silva VA, Chiarini-Garcia H, Garcia SK, Debeljuk L (2000) Cell proliferation and hormonal changes during postnatal development of the testis in the pig. Biol Reprod 63:1629–1636
Gupta PD (1983) Ultrastructural study on semithin section. Science Tools 30(1):6–7
Hikim AP, Lue YH, Wang C, Reutrakul U, Sangsuwan R, Swerdloff RS (2001) Posttesticular antifertility action of triptolide in the male rat: evidence for severe impairment of cauda epididymal sperm ultrastructure. J Andor 21(3):431–437
Joshi SC, Jain GC, Lata M (1994) Effects of ketoconazole (animidazole antifungal agent) on the fertility and reproductive function of male mice. Acta Eur Fertil 25(1):55–58
Makame T, Hokanson R, Chowdhary R, Busbea D (2004) Alteredgene expression in human cells induced by the agricultured chemical enable. Toxicol Ind Health 20(6–10):89–102
Neves SE, Chiarini-Garcia H, Franca LR (2002) Comparative testis morphometry and somniferous epithelium cycle length in donkeys and mules. Biol Reprod 67:247–255
Oyeka CA (1996) An introduction of statistical methods. Norbern Avocation, Enugu, pp 218–284
Pan JH, Ho WH (2004) Determination of fungicide in water using liquid phase micro extraction and gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Anal Chim Acta 527(1):61–67
Perreault SD (1997) The mature spermatozoa as a target for reproductive toxicants. In: Bokelheide K, Chapin RE, Hoyer PB, Craig H (eds) Comprehensive toxicology: reproductive and endocrine toxicology, vol 10. Pergamon, New York, pp 165–191
Rankin GO, Yang DJ, Gressy-veneziane K, Wang RT, Brown PI (1985) In vivo and in vitro effects of azaconazole on renal function in the Fischer 344 rat. Toxicology 34(1):1–11
Sun G, Thai SF, Tully DB, Lambert GR, Gotez AK, Wolf DC, Dix DJ, Vesnow S (2005) Propiconazole induced cytochrome P450 gene expression and enzymes activities in rat and mouse liver. Toxicol Lett 155(2):277–287
U.S. EPA (1999) Pesticide tolerance. Fed. reg., 40, CFR part 180, vol. 64
Vermeulen A, Verdonck L, Kaufman JM (1999) A critical evaluation of simple methods for the estimation of free testosterone in serum. J Clinic Endocrin Metabol 84(10):3666–3672
Wang JM, Wu XL, You W, Ling LX, Wu J, Zhang GY (1992) Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of the effect of ketoconazole on reproductive function in male rats. Int J Androl 15(5):376–389
Wang P, Jiang S, Liu D, Wang PI, Zhou Z (2005) Direct enantiomeric resolutions of chiral triazole pesticides by high-performance liquid chromatography. J Biochem Biophys Meth 62(3):219–230
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
El-Sharkawy, E.E., El-Nisr, N.A. Testicular dysfunction induced by penconazole fungicide on male albino rats. Comp Clin Pathol 22, 475–480 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-012-1435-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-012-1435-4