Research Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Hormonal Changes Associated with Insecticide Exposure in Albino Rats


Affiliations
1 Department of Biochemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
2 Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
3 Department of Medical Biochemistry St Louis University of Health and Biomedical Sciences, Nigeria
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Insecticide an organic chemical used in agriculture, medicine, industries and household has bio-pharmacological effects such as inducing stress, hormonal imbalance and/or physiological effects and reproductive toxicity. This study therefore investigated the possible effects of exposure to insecticides on hormonal responses in rats. Albino rats were exposed to insecticides through drinking water for continues twenty one days and the following hormone concentrations determined using standard ELISA methods; thyrotropin, total thyroid, total thyroxine, follicle stimulating, progesterone, prolactin and luteinizing. The results obtained showed that the concentration of thyrotropin, total thyroid and follicle stimulating hormones significantly decreased (p<0.05) while total thyroxine, prolactin and progesterone concentrations significantly increased (p<0.05) compared to the control. The change in the concentration of luteinizing hormone was insignificant (p>0.05) in the group of rats exposed to insecticide when compared to the unexposed group. In conclusion, the exposure of rats to insecticides resulted in adverse changes in their hormonal concentrations.

Keywords

Hormones, Hormonal Changes, Insecticide Exposure and Albino Rats
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Alm, H.; Tiemann, U. and Torner, H. (1996). Influence of organochlorine pesticides on development of mouse embryos in vitro. Reprod. Toxicol. 10 : 321-326.

  • Caroll, R.S.; Kowash, M.; Lofgren, J.A.; Schwall, R.H. and Chin, W.W. (1991). In vivo regulation of FSH synthesis by inhibin and activin. Endocrinol., 129 : 3299-3304.

  • Check, J.H. (1995); Falsely elevated steroidal assay levels to heterophile antibodies against various animal species. GynecolObstet Invest 40:139-140. Commercial “Sandwich”- Type Immunoassays of Carcinoembroyonic Antigen, Clin. Chem. 35:146.

  • Colborn, T., Vom Saal, F.S. and Soto, A.M. (1993). Developmental effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in wildlife and humans. Environ. Health Perspect., 101 (5) : 378-384.

  • Crisp, T.M., Clegg, E.D., Cooper, R.L., Wood, W.P., Anderson, D.G., Baetcke, K.P., Hoffmann, J.L., Morrow, M.S., Rodier, D.J., Schaeffer, J.E., Touart, L.W., Zeeman, M.G and Patel, Y.M. (1998). "Environmental endocrine disruption: An effects assessment and analysis". Environ. Health Perspect.106 (Suppl 1): 11–56.

  • Dalsenter, P.R., Faqi, A.S and Chahoud, I. (1997). Serum testosterone and sexual behavior in rats after prenatal exposure to lindane. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 59 : 360-366.

  • Desaulniers, D., Leingartner, K., Wade, M., Fintelman, E., Yagminas, A and Foster, W.G. (1999). Effects of acute exposure to PCBs 126 and 153 on anterior pituitary and thyroid hormones and FSH isoforms in adult Sprague Dawley male rats. Toxicol. Sci., 47 (2): 158-169.

  • Desaulniers, D., Poon, R., Phan, W., Leingartner, K., Foster, W.G. and Chu, I. (1997). Reproductive and thyroid hormone levels in (trichlorobiphenyl) rats following 90-day dietary exposure to PCB 28 (2, 4, 4 or PCB 77 (3, 3`, 4, 4`-tetrachlorobiphenyl). Toxicol. Ind. Health, 13 (5) : 627-638.

  • Ekins. (1993),.“Total Hormone Assay”. Nuclear Medicine Communications, 14, 676-688

  • El-Kashoury, A.A., Mohamed, O.M. and Said, N.A. (2005). Effect of abamectin from different sources on some hormonal, biochemical, immunological and haematological indices in adult male albino rat. Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci., 20 (12): 32-46.

  • Foster, W.G., Desaulniers, D., Leingartner, K., Wade, M.G., Poon, R. and Chu, I. (1999). Reproductive effects of tris (4-chlorophenyl) methanol in the rat. Chemosphere, 39 (5): 709-724.

  • Hajjo, R.M., Afifi, F.U. and Bathah, A.H. (2007). Multiresidue pesticide analysis of the medical plant Organum suriacum. Food Addit. Contam., 24 (3) : 274-279.

  • Hansen H, J. (1989); Solving the Problem of Antibody Interference in commercial “sandwich”- type immunoassays of carcinoembyronic antigen,Clin. Chem; 35:146.

  • Hotz, K.J., Wilson, A.G., Thake, D.C., Roloff, M.V., Capen, C.C., Kronenberg, J.M. and Brewster, D.W. (1997). Mechanism of thiazopyr induced effects of thyroid hormone homeostasis in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 142 (1): 133-142.

  • Kozwich D., Davis G., and Sockol C., (1991), Clin.Chem, vol. 37, 1040.

  • Krause, W. (1977). Influence of DDT, DDVP and malathion on FSH, LH and testosterone serum levels and testosterone concentration in testes. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 18 (2) : 231-242.

  • Lafuente, A., Marquez, N., Pousada, Y., Pazo, D. and Esquifino, A.L. (2000). Possible estrogenic and/or antiandrogenic effects of methoxychlor on prolactin release in male rats. Arch. Toxicol., 74 (4-5) : 270-275.

  • Leiss, J.K. and Savitz, D.A. (1995). Home pesticide use and childhood cancer: a case control study. American J. Publ. Hlth., 85: 249–53

  • Lenzi, A. (2000). Lipoperoxidation damage of spermatozoa polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA): Scavenger mechanisms and possible scavenger therapies. Front. Biosc, 5: 1-15.

  • Nelson J.C and Wilcox, RB. (1996). “Analytical performance of Free and Total thyroxine assay”.Clin. Chem. Vol. 42, 146-154.

  • NRC (National Research Council) (1996). Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, National Academic Press, Washington, p 125

  • Nuckols, J.R., Gunier, R.B., Riggs, P., Miller, R., Reynolds, P and Ward, M.H. (2007). Linkage of California pesticide use reporting data-base spatial land use for exposure assessment. Environ. Health Perspect., 115 (5) : 684-689.

  • Oschsendorf, F.R. (1999). Infections in the male genital tract and reactive oxygen species. Human Reproduction Update, 5 : 399- 420.

  • Pierce, J.G and Parsons, T.F. (1981): Glycoprotein Hormones: Structure and Function, Annual Rev. Biochem., 50, 465-495.

  • Schettler, T., Solomon, G., Kaplan, J and Valenti, M. (2003). Generations at Risk: How Environmental Toxicants May Affect Reproductive Health in California. Brisbane, CA: George Lithograph;

  • Sharpe, R.M and Skakkebaek, N.E. (1993). Are oestrogens involved in falling sperm counts and disorders of the male reproductive tract ?. The Lancet., 341 : 1392-1395.

  • Tag El-Din, H.A., Abbas, H.E. and El-Kashoury, A.A. (2003). Experimental studies of dicofol reproductive toxicity on male albino rats. Bull. Fac. Pharm., Cairo Univ., 41 (2): 179-188.

  • Takizawa, S. and Horii, I. (2002). Endocrinological assessment of toxic effects on the male reproductive system in rats treated with 5-fluorouracil for 2 or 4 weeks. J. Toxicol. Sci., 27 (1): 49- 56.

  • Utotila, M., Ruoslahti, E. and Engvall, E., J. Immunol. Methods,.(1981); 42,11-15.

  • Van den Bery, K.J., Van Raaj, J.A., Bragt, P.C. and Notten, W.R. (1991). Interactions of halogenated industrial chemicals with transthyretin and effects on thyroid hormone levels in vivo. Arch. Toxicol., 56 (1): 15-19.

  • Vinggaard, A.M., Hnida, C., Breinholt, V and Larsen, J.C. (2000). Screening of selected pesticides for inhibition of CYP19 aromatase activity in vitro. Toxicol. In vitro., 14 (3) : 227-234.

  • Whorton, D., R.M. Krause, S. Marshal and Miby, T.H. (1977). Infertility in male pesticide workers. Lancet, 2: 1259–61


Abstract Views: 319

PDF Views: 2




  • Hormonal Changes Associated with Insecticide Exposure in Albino Rats

Abstract Views: 319  |  PDF Views: 2

Authors

I. Egba Simeon
Department of Biochemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
U. Njoku Obioma
Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
Emmanuel N. Tufon
Department of Medical Biochemistry St Louis University of Health and Biomedical Sciences, Nigeria

Abstract


Insecticide an organic chemical used in agriculture, medicine, industries and household has bio-pharmacological effects such as inducing stress, hormonal imbalance and/or physiological effects and reproductive toxicity. This study therefore investigated the possible effects of exposure to insecticides on hormonal responses in rats. Albino rats were exposed to insecticides through drinking water for continues twenty one days and the following hormone concentrations determined using standard ELISA methods; thyrotropin, total thyroid, total thyroxine, follicle stimulating, progesterone, prolactin and luteinizing. The results obtained showed that the concentration of thyrotropin, total thyroid and follicle stimulating hormones significantly decreased (p<0.05) while total thyroxine, prolactin and progesterone concentrations significantly increased (p<0.05) compared to the control. The change in the concentration of luteinizing hormone was insignificant (p>0.05) in the group of rats exposed to insecticide when compared to the unexposed group. In conclusion, the exposure of rats to insecticides resulted in adverse changes in their hormonal concentrations.

Keywords


Hormones, Hormonal Changes, Insecticide Exposure and Albino Rats

References