Evaluation of Genetic and Reproductive Toxicology of Orally Administered Acephate in Male Wistar Rats

Present study was conducted to evaluate acephate effects at three dosage levels (1/50^th, 1/25^th and 1/10^th of LD₅₀) on reproductive and genotoxicity in male Wistar rats exposed for four weeks. Acid and alkaline phosphatase concentration decreased non-significantly among all treated groups. Levels of total lipids and phospholipids decreased, whereas cholesterol increased in dose-dependent manner. At all tested concentrations, reduction in sperm concentration, motility and viability associated with increased percentage of abnormal sperms was recorded. The number of spermatogenic cells decreased with increasing dose of acephate, indicating a reduction of spermatogenesis process. Histopathological examination of testis showed dose-related alterations, which include tubular degeneration, disintegrated epithelium along with disappeared spermatozoa from lumen of seminiferous tubules. At higher dose (1/10^th of LD₅₀) of acephate caused severe DNA damage as confirmed by presence of comet tail. Hence, it indicates that acephate by impairing testicular function affects reproductive potential of rats and induces genotoxicity.