Reproductive toxicity of some biorational pesticides in albino rats (Rattus norvegicus var. albus)

The toxicity of abamectin and bioinsecticide B.t. (Bacillus thuringiensis) was evaluated against white albino rats. Rats received dietary doses each approximately equivalent to 1 / 10 or 1 / 100 LD50''''s of the tested pesticides for consecutive 60 days. The reproductive toxicity was dosage dependent and the symptoms appeared as alternations of genital organs weights and sex hormonal levels, e.g. reduced testis and seminal vesicles and reduced testosterone levels. In females, ovarian and uterine weights and progesterone levels were abnormal. Fertility characters of spermatogenic cells were severely affected as well. In all cases, lesions onset was ensured by the histopathological manifestation. The fore-mentioned effects were poorly exhibited by abamectin, especially at the lowest dose. However, abamectin might affect mating capability of male rats. Furthermore, pregnancy and neonatal indices e.g. pregnancy rate, litter size/pregnant female, sex ratio and pub weight) were not significantly affected by each of the tested pesticides.