Effect of endosulfan during fetal gonadal differentiation on spermatogenesis in rats

Pregnant rats were exposed to endosulfan (1 or 2 mg/kg per day) from day 12 of gestation through parturition. Male neonates were fostered to untreated darns. At 100 days of age, the male offspring were sacrificed. Exposure to endosulfan during fetal gonadal differentiation altered the process of spe rmatogenesis by affecting testicular lactate dehydrogenase and sorbitol deh ydrogenase. Reduction in spermatid count in testis and sperm count in cauda epididymis was observed. Testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle showed sig nificant decrease in weights in both the treated groups while no effect on prostate weight was recorded. Hence it can be suggested that endosulfan int erferes in the process of spermatogenesis. The overall toxicity was dose de pendent. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.