Desenvolvimento reprodutivo de ratos machos expostos ao fenvalerato in utero e lactação / Reproductive development of male rats exposed to fenvalerate in utero and lactation

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2005

RESUMO

Fenvalerate is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide used in agriculture, cattle raising and in the control of domestic insects, and its reproductive effects are little-known.Some studies already have proposed that fenvalerate is an endocrine disruptor, acting as an environmentalestrogen. Studies done with rats exposed to some pyrethroids showed reduction of sperm number and plasmatic testosterone concentration. Knowingthat the male reproductive system of rats is more sensitive to the effects of toxic substances during fetal and neonatal phases, the objective of this work was to evaluate the possible Iate effects on the reproductive development at pre-puberty (aged 40 days), puberty (aged 60 days) and sexual maturity(aged 90 days) in male rats whose mothers were exposed to fenvalerate during gestation and lactation. Additionally,sexual behavior, fertilityof adult rats, transference of fenvalerate from the mothers to the offspringand its persistence in the organism of the male descendents were investigated. For this study pregnant rats (n=8) were treated with technical fenvalerate (96% purity), in the dose of 40 mglKg, from gestational day 12 until the end of lactation (critical period for differentiation of the male reproductive system of the offspring). Control rats (n=8) received com oil (vehicle), irí the same experimental conditions. The reproductive development was evaluated through of the age when testicular descent and preputial separation occurred, weight of reproductive organs, plasmatictestosterone levels, numbers of germ cells in the testis and epididymis and sperm morphology. The spermatogenic process, the number of Sertoli cells, seminiferous tubule diameter and height of the germinative epithelium were also evaluated. The sexual behavior and fertilityof adult rats were also evaluated by natural matings. Fenvalerate -residues were quantified using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)in samples of organs and tissues of mothers,fetuses and pups. The results of the fenvalerate quantification revealed that the pyrethroid was transferred from the mothersto the fetuses through the placenta, and to the pups by maternal milk, respectively. The pyrethroid remained in the organism of the pups until at least 40 days of age, especially in the testis and epididymis. In utero and lactational exposure to fenvalerate was toxic for the testis, as shown by the diminished weight of this organ in the treated groups and reduction of the sperm production at puberty, without androgen depletion or decrease of the Sertoli cell population. The morphological and morphometrical studies did not show injuries in the histological aspect of the testis or the spermatogenic process, suggesting the action of fenvalerate on the formation of seminiferous cords in the fetal testicJe. At adult age there was a significant increase of the seminal vesicJe weight and in the number of ejaculations, although the fertilitytest results were similarbetween control and treated groups. These effects can be a Iate consequence of a neuroendocrinedysregulationduringthe critical period of differentiation of the male reproductive system, when the exposure to fenvalerate occurred. It was concluded that fenvalerate, diluted in com oil at the dose of 40 mg/Kg, administered to rats from the gestational day 12 until the end of lactation was transferred through the placenta and milk, provoking Iate effects in the reproductive development of the male offspring

ASSUNTO(S)

insecticides toxicologia reprodutiva toxicology rat inseticidas - toxicologia reprodução animal rato reproductive toxicology animal reproduction

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