Veterinary Research Forum
Vet Res Forum

Ethephon causes reproductive malfunction in adult male mice: Histological ‎and biochemical evidence

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Ramin Jahangirfard 1
Gholamreza Najafi 2
Ali Shalizar-Jalali 2
Abbas Ahmadi 2
Elham Zadehhashem 2

1 PhD Candidate, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran‎

2 Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30466/vrf.2020.109762.2607
Abstract
Ethephon (C2H6ClO3P; ETP), an organophosphorus pesticide regulating plant growth, is widely used for early ripening of fruits and vegetables in agriculture. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ETP on histomorphometrical and biochemical parameters in mouse testicular tissue. In this study, 90 adult male mice were randomly divided into six equal groups (n = 15). The ETP was administered orally at different doses (120, 240 and 480 mg kg-1) daily for 35 days. Untreated control, sham (received only normal saline) and neostigmine bromide-treated (positive control; 0.10 mg kg-1 orally; once per week) groups were also considered. Following 35 days, animals were euthanized and testicle and serum samples were taken. Accordingly, blood and serum acetylcholinesterase (AChE), catalase, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as well as histomorphometrical changes of testicles were investigated. The ETP-administered animals represented a significant reduction in AChE, TAC and catalase levels and remarkable increment in MDA content. A marked reduction was also seen in the germinal epithelium height, connective tissue thickness, seminiferous tubules diameter and Leydig cell number as well as spermiogenesis and Sertoli cell indices in ETP-treated mice compared to control ones. Similar findings were found in neostigmine bromide-treated animals. In conclusion, the ETP significantly affects the serum and blood anti-oxidant statuses and results in severe histological damages both at germ and somatic cell levels, suggesting its hematotoxic and reprotoxic characteristic.

Keywords

Ethephon
‎ Hematotoxicity
‎ Histomorphometry
‎ Oxidative stress
‎ Testis
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Veterinary Research Forum
Volume 12, Issue 3
Summer 2021
Pages 333-338

  • Receive Date 17 June 2019
  • Revise Date 23 October 2019
  • Accept Date 06 January 2020

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