Sperm quality and reproductive traits in male offspring of female rabbits exposed to Lindane (gamma-HCH) during pregnancy and lactation

Fifteen Grimaud female hybrid rabbits, 135 days old and weighting an averag e of 3.74 +/-0.01 kg each, were administered an oral dose of 1 mg. kg(-1) b ody weight of Lindane during gestation and lactation period. Fertility rate , libido, volume of ejaculate, concentration and morphology of spermatozoa were investigated to test the effects of the treatment on reproductive trai ts of first generation male rabbits. Ultrastructure of abnormal spermatozoa was described by Transmission Electron Microscopy and the different abnorm alities were quantified. The results obtained indicate that low dose exposu re of Lindane has effects on spermatozoa ultrastructure that proved to be s usceptible to the treatment with the pesticide (cytoplasmic droplets: 5.3% in control group and 10.3% in Lindane group, P less than or equal to0.05; c oiled tails: 1.3% in control group and 4.3% in Lindane group, P less than o r equal to0.05) and could be utilised as a good marker of toxicity.