Abstract

In the present study, thirty six (36) adult male Wistar rats were divided into six groups each containing 6 Wistar rats (n = 6). Group I served as untreated control group while group II served as the positive control and group III served as the negative control. Group IV, V and VI were considered as the experimental groups. Group II received tetracyclin (28.6 mg/kg/b.wt/day), while group III received vehicle (olive oil 0.5 ml/100 g body weight/day). GroupIV, V and VI were administered “acephate” and dissolved in olive oil at dose level of 25, 50 and 75mg/kg b.wt/day for 30 days, respectively. Reproductive toxicity of acephate was evaluated on the basis of weight analysis of cauda epididymis and accessory sex organs, fertility, sperm dynamics, protein content, sialic acid content and histopathological studies. There was a decrease in the weight of epididymis, ventral prostate, vas deferens and seminal vesicle. The results showed highly significant decline in sperm density and motility. Post fertility test showed 30, 60, and 80% negative results. A statistically significant increase was noticed in protein content whereas sialic acid content was decreased in the cauda epididymis and accessory sex organs. The histopathological observations also support the occurrence of toxicity being caused due to exposure of acephate. The observations are thus indicative of the reproductive toxicity caused by acephate at different dose levels in the male rats.

Key words: Acephate, fertility, sperm density, sialic acid, toxicity.