Toxicological evaluation of dithiocarbamate fungicide mancozeb on the endocrine functions in male rats

AbstractIn the present study, we evaluated the mancozeb-induced toxicity on the liver, thyroid, and testis via histological and functional hormone assay in male rats. Mancozeb was orally administered at 800 mg/kg body weight/day for 4 weeks. Upon the chronic administration of mancozeb, the body weight slightly decreased, but, liver, thyroid, and testis weights per 100 g body weight were not changed. Histological studies of the testis of male rats treated with mancozeb revealed spermatogenesis inhibition, which was reflected by significant decreases in the numbers of spermatogonia, primary spermatocyte, spermatid, and sperm. Chronic exposure to mancozeb induced gonadal hormone disturbance. Concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone in the serum were significantly decreased in mancozeb-treated rats. The volume and histopathology of the thyroid were also distinctly altered. Serum levels of T3 and T4 were markedly decreased in the mancozeb diet group. However, liver toxicity was not observed upon chronic mancozeb exposure.
Source: Molecular and Cellular Toxicology - Category: Cytology Source Type: research