Effect of intraperitoneal administered Deltamethrin on the fertility index of albino rats

Deltamethrin, a broad spectrum type II Pyrethroid is one of the most commonly and extensively used pesticides, internationally today. Its expanded use has expectedly resulted in residues in food causing toxic effects on human health. The present work was conducted to study the histomorphological changes in testis in Deltamethrin treated albino rats and its effect on fertility index. Deltamethrin in the dose of 1 mg/kg/ body weight daily for a month was administered intraperitoneally in adult wistar albino rats (150-200 g). Controls were maintained. The animals were sacrificed within 24 hour of the last injection by perfusion. Testis was dissected out, Paraffin section (8u) were cut and stained for the light microscopy. Cytoarchitecture of the seminiferous tubules were hypocellular with epithelial disorganization, sloughing with degenerating cellular debris in the lumens. The Johnsen’s criteria were used for the estimation of fertility index. The mean Johnsen score were 8.58 ± 0.181 and 8.92 ± 0.099 in control group whereas 2.85 ± 0.347 and 3.14 ± 0.374 in the central and peripheral group of seminiferous tubule in the experimental group of rats respectively. Findings in the present study strongly suggested inflammatory and degenerative changes in the testis with decreased fertility index indicating hypospermatogenesis that could lead to infertility.