Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences of Yazd
Abstract
Background: Diazinon is a widely used Organophosphate insecticide,
which is applied against plant pests. This compound has various side
effects because it acts as an acetyl cholinesterase enzyme inhibitor.
Objective: The aim of present study was to investigate the effects of
diazinon on pituitary-gonad axis and ovarian histological changes in
rats. Materials and Methods: In total, 50 female wistar rats were
divided into 5 groups of 10, including control, sham and experimental
groups I, II and III which orally received 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg/bw
diazinon for 14 days respectively. Diazinon was administered orally,
and 24 hours after the last treatment, blood samples were taken from
the heart, centrifuged and sera were evaluated for the concentrations
of estrogen, progesterone and gonadotropins via RIA method. In
addition, ovaries were removed, fixed and studied with steriological
methods. Results: The results show no significant changes in body
weight among various groups; while, ovarian weight in experimental
group III decreased significantly (p<0.05). Also, no significant
changes in the levels of LH, FSH and estradiol hormones were observed.
In contrast, the concentration of progesterone showed a significant
decrease in all experimental groups compared with the control group.
The results showed no significance difference in the mean number of
primary, secondary and graffian follicles but there was a significant
decline in the mean number of corpus luteum in experimental group
receiving 150 mg/kg diazinon (p<0.05 ) . Conclusion: One can
conclude that oral administration of diazinon could have adverse effect
on progesterone hormone level as well as hazardous effects on ovarian
tissues and reproductive processes
