EFFECT OF DERMAL APPLICATION OF HEXACHLOROCYCLOHEXANE (HCH) ON MALE REPRODUCTIVE-SYSTEM OF RAT

1 The toxic manifestations of dermally applied hexachloracyclohexane ( 50 mg or 100 mg kg(-1) body weight day(-1), 5 days in a week for 120 d ays) on testes and sperm of rat have been investigated. 2 The results indicate that exposure of HCH through the dermal route could lead to a n alteration in the activities of marker testicular enzymes viz. sorbi tol dehydrogenase (SDH), glucose-6-P-dehydrogenase (G6PDH), gamma-glut amyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) and beta-glucuronidase (beta Gluc.) ass ociated with specific cell types. 3 Significant quantities of HCH and its isomers accumulated in testes as well as sperm of treated rats. 4 HCH exposure also led to a decrease in serum testosterone levels, epid idymal sperm count, sperm motility and an increase in the percentage o f abnormal sperm. 5 These observations indicate the possibility of adv erse effects of HCH on the male reproductive functions of men exposed dermally to this pesticide in industry or during spraying in the field .