Treatment with Aldrin, an organochlorine insecticide, for 13 and 26 days caused suppression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) activities, along with accumulation of cholesterol in the testicular tissues of adult rats. The same treatment also resulted in a reduction in the nuclear diameter of Leydig cells (LCND) and diameter of seminiferous tubules. A decrease in the weight of testes, seminal vesicles and ventral prostate was also noted. HCG administration in the long-term (26 days) treatment restored the steroidogenic enzymes activity and the nuclear diameter of the Leydig cells. It also reduced the accumulation of tissue cholesterol towards the vehicle-injected controls. The inhibition of steroidogenesis in the testes possibly reflects a decrease in pituitary gonadotrophin release after the treatment with Aldrin. © 1988.

S CHATTERJEE

A RAY

P BAGCHI

C DEB

University of Calcutta (informally known as Calcutta University or CU) is a collegiate public state university located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.&nbsp;Within India it is recognized as a &quot;Five-Star University&quot; and accredited &quot;A&quot; Grade by National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

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The University of Calcutta has secured the Fifth position among the Universities of India in the prestigious &quot;Indian University Ranking 2019&quot; list, released by the NIRF of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

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It was established on 24 January 1857, and was one of the first institutions in Asia to be established as a multidisciplinary and Western-style university. Its alumni and faculty include several heads of state, heads of government, social reformers, prominent artists, only academy award winner and Dirac medal winner in India, many Fellows of the Royal Society and five Nobel laureates as of 2019 which is highest in South Asia.

University Of Calcutta

Suppression of testicular steroidogenesis in rats by the organochlorine insecticide Aldrin.

Environmental Pollution

Nickel sulfate (2.0 mg/100 g.b.wt) dissolved in double-distilled water was administered (ip) on alternate days for ten doses to normal protein-fed and protein-restricted Wister strain albino rats (b.wt. 160 ± 5 g). Two groups were used: one with normal protein diet, whereas the other with protein-restricted diet served as control. Twenty-four hours after the last treatment, the animals were sacrificed by decapitation. Tissues such as the testes, seminal vesicles, epididymis (Cauda and Caput) and prostate were dissected out, wiped clean, and stored at -20°C until analysis. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) activities, glycogen content, cholesterol content, and total protein content of the testes were estimated. Nickel sulfate administration significantly decreased the body weight of both normal protein-fed and protein-restricted groups of animals; the organ weights were also decreased. Significant decrease of LDH activity was observed, but GOT activity was not altered significantly. Testicular glycogen and cholesterol increased significantly in both experimental groups, but total protein content decreased. Nickel sulfate seems to have an adverse effect on the male reproductive system in both groups of animals fed with normal protein (18% casein) diet and protein restricted (5% casein) diet.

Biological Trace Element Research

Alteration of testicular biochemistry during protein restriction in nickel treated rats

Losulazine hydrochloride, an antihypertensive agent, was administered intraperitoneally to adult male Wistar rats in doses of 1, 2 and 5 mg/kg/day for 1 seminiferous epithelium cycle to determine its effects on testicular steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis and accessory sex gland function. Administration of low doses of losulazine (1 and 2 mg/kg) resulted in a significant elevation of the steriodogenic key enzymes activity along with significant depletion of cholesterol content in testicular tissue. In addition, a significant rise in acid phosphatase activity in testes and prostate, and fructose content in accessory sex glands was also observed after low doses of losulazine. However, treatment with a higher dose of losulazine (5 mg/kg) significantly reduced the activities of testicular steroidogenic enzymes and acid phosphatase, and the content of fructose in accessory sex glands. Quantitative evaluation of the different varieties of germ cells at stage VII of the seminiferous epithelium cycle and epididymal sperm count in all losulazine-treated rats revealed a persistant prominent detrimental change in spermatogenesis. The results of our present experiment demonstrate an adverse action of losulazine treatment on functional activities of testes and accessory sex glands in adult rats. © 1994.

Toxicology Letters

Study on the activities of testes and accessory sex glands after losulazine treatment in rats

Biochemical estimation of prostatic acid phosphatase and fructose content in accessory sex glands, along with radioimmunoassay of plasma gonadotrophins (FSH and LH) and testosterone were performed in Wistar rats following treatment with quinalphos, an organophosphorus insecticide, for 13 and 26 days. Prostatic acid phosphatase activity and fructose content of the accessory sex glands, and plasma levels of testosterone and FSH were significantly lower in all rats treated with quinalphos. However, the degree of inhibition was more extensive in the 26 day-treatment group who, in addition also exhibited a significant reduction in relative weights of the testes and accessory sex organs, and plasma levels of LH. All these adverse effects of quinalphos were prevented when exogenous HCG was administered in concomitant with the insecticide for 26 days. These results suggest that quinalphos may exert a suppressive effect on the functional activity of accessory sex glands by decreasing testicular testosterone production following inhibition of pituitary gonadotrophins release. © 1991 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

Suppressive effect of quinalphos on the activity of accessory sex glands and plasma concentrations of gonadotrophins and testosterone in rats

Quantitative evaluation of the different varieties of germ cells at stage VII of the seminiferous epithelium cycle, namely type-A spermatogonia (ASg), preleptotene spermatocytes (pLSc), mid-pachytene spermatocytes (mPSc) and step 7 spermatids (7Sd), along with radioimmunoassay of plasma gonadotrophins (FSH and LH), testosterone and testicular testosterone were performed in Wistar rats following treatment with aldrin (polycyclic chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide) for approximately one (13 days) or two cycles (26 days) of the seminiferous epithelium. Extensive degeneration of all varieties of germ cells at stage VIII, reduction in the sperm count and significant reductions in plasma concentrations of LH and testosterone were observed following aldrin treatment. The reduction in plasma concentrations of FSH was statistically significant only after treatment for two cycles. The inhibitory effect of aldrin on plasma gonadotrophins, testosterone levels, testicular testosterone content and numbers of 7Sd and ASg was maximum after treatment for two cycles. Administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin along with aldrin treatment for two cycles partially prevented the degeneration of germ cells and enhanced testosterone production. The results indicate that aldrin may have a direct inhibitory influence on gonadotrophin release, but the possibility of a direct action of the insecticide at the level of the testes is also discussed.

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ISSN	0269-7491