Samira Mousa Sasi*(1) Nagiah Mousa Al-Ghoul(1) and FtemaMohammad Al-Shakshouki(1)
(1). Department od Animal Science, Faculty of Science, Tripoli University, Tripoli, Libya.
(*Corresponding author: Samira Mousa Sasi. E.Mail: samira_18_3@yahoo.com).
Received: 22/02/2018 Accepted: 17/05/2018
Abstract
This study was done to evaluate reproductive potential of male mice following early exposure to dimethoate. Thirty-six Swiss albino male mice were divided into three groups of twelve mice each: first group injected intraperitoneally with distilled water, and used as a control group, while second and third groups injected with dimethoate at doses of 0.1 and 0.2 ml dimethoate/100 ml distilled water, respectively for 7 days. At the end of experiment, the mice were weighed and then were killed. Testis and epididymis weights were recorded, sperm parameters were evaluated. The results revealed a decrease in body and testis weights in second group treated with dimethoate, while epididymis weights did not affect, also the statistical analysis showed a significant decrease in sperm motility and increase of abnormal sperm in dimethoate treated mice compared to control group, while sperm count did not show any effect, also marked alterations in microstructure of testicular tissues observed. In addition, there was a significant increase in mean percentage of dead embryos and deformed embryos of untreated females mating with dimethoate treated males compared to control, there was no effect of pesticide on the mean weight of embryos. This study emphasized that the dimethoate has harmful effect on testis, sperm parameters and the embryos. Therefore, more efforts should be exerted to protect our environment and health from seriously harmful effects of this insecticide.
Key words: Male mice, Dimethoate, Testis, Reproduction.
Full paper in Arabic: PDF