Fenvalerate, A Pyrethroid Insecticide, Adversely Affects Sperm Production and Storage in Male Rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)The aim of this study was to investigate the potential estrogenic activity of fenvalerate by examining reproductive and fertility capabilities in Wistar rats. Adult male animals were treated for 30 d with 20 or 40 mg/kg/d fenvalerate or corn oil (vehicle) by oral gavage. Further, a possible estrogenic activity of fenvalerate (0.4, 1, 4, 8, or 40 mg/kg) was tested after a 3-d treatment of immature female rats using the uterotrophic assay. Exposure to the higher dose of fenvalerate was toxic to testis and epididymis as shown by a decrease in the absolute weights and sperm counts in both organs. Although the sperm counts were reduced, the fertility and sexual behavior were similar in control rats and rats treated with 40 mg/kg pesticide. Fenvalerate did not exert estrogenic activity in vivo at the tested doses. Data suggest that fenvalerate treatment in this study failed to compromise fertility, possibly due to enhanced reproductive capacity in rodents compared to humans.712315501558Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [02/09455-6, 04/08627-3

Hematobiochemical, immunological, antioxidant status, and residues of flumethrin following weekly dermal application in goats

Flumethrin is used extensively in livestock periodically, which may cause adverse effect in goats and subsequently to human being through food chain. Flumethrin at 1.0% solution was applied weekly dermally for 84 days and hematobiochemical as well as immunological parameters, anti-oxidant status, liver enzymes, and tissue residues in goats were estimated. Flumethrin did not produce changes in hemogram except decreased total leukocyte count. Serum protein level was decreased, but serum AST and ALT activities were increased at the end of the study period. IgG level was decreased from the last 2 weeks. But flumethrin did not produce any effect on antioxidant status, as evident from nonsignificant changes in catalase, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, and reduced glutathione level in liver. Liver AST and ALT activities increased and cytochrome P450 content decreased on day 85. Histopathological study revealed mild changes in liver. Low level of residues of flumethrin was detected in vital tissues following high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis. Flumethrin could not be detected in tissues after 21 days withdrawal period. It may be concluded that flumethrin produces mild changes in various biochemical and immunological parameters from the last 2 weeks of study period and did not have a tendency to accumulate in the different tissues following weekly dermal application for 3 months.</p