Effect of acephate on testicular functions of Albino rats.

In the present study commonly used insecticide acephate dissolved in olive oil was administered orally to albino male rats at dose level of 25, 50 and 75mg /kg b.wt/day for 30 days. Reproductive toxicity of acephate was evaluated on the basis of weight analysis of testes and accessory sex organs, fertility, sperm dynamics, hormonal analysis and histopathological studies. There was a decrease in the weight of testes, epididymis, ventral prostate and seminal vesicle. The result showed highly significant decline in sperm density and motility. Post fertility test showed 30%, 60%, and 80% negative results. A decrease in serum testosterone, FSH and LH levels were observed in all the treated groups. The histopathological observations also support the occurrence of toxicity being caused due to exposure of acephate. The observations are thus indicative of the reproductive toxicity caused by acephate at different dose levels in the testes of rats.