Ferdinand Ngoula

Effects of propoxur on the reproductive system of male rats.

The reproductive toxicity of propoxur (2-isopropoxy-phenyl-N-methylcarbamate), a carbamate pesticide, was investigated in adult male Wistar rats exposed to 0, 1.73, 2.6, and 5.2 mg/kg body weight/day for 90 successive days. Results obtained from this study showed a significant (p < 0.05) concentration-dependent increase in food consumption, relative weights of testis, epididymis and kidneys with maximum effects observed at the highest dose of propoxur (5.2 mg/kg) compared to the control. On the contrary, there was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the body weight gain, sperm density, serum and intratesticular total cholesterol concentrations, and intratesticular total proteins in rats treated with propoxur at the dose of 5.2 mg/kg body weight. Propoxur had no significant effect on gestation, fertility and parturition indices, average birth weight, litter size and pups sex ratio of untreated female rats mated with treated males rats. These results suggested that propoxur increased food consumption, relative weight of reproductive and detoxication organs, decreased body weight gain and sperm density per gram of cauda epididymis without affecting the reproductive performances.

Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity of Insecticides

Ferdinand Ngoula1, Omer Bebe Ngouateu2, Jean Raphael Kana1, Henry Fualefac Defang1, Pierre Watcho3, Pierre Kamtchouing2 and Joseph Tchoumboue1 1Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang 2Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaounde I 3Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Dschang Cameroon

Effects of ethanol extract of Bersama engleriana leaves on oxidative stress and reproductive parameters in male Guinea pig ( Cavia porcellus ) exposed to cypermethrin

Pesticides are used to improve agricultural yields; meanwhile they have detrimental effects on human and animal reproduction. This study aimed at evaluating the protective effects of ethanol extract of Bersama engleriana leaves against cypermethrin-induced oxidative stress and reproductive toxicity. Fifty male guinea pigs were divided into 5 groups (G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5) of 10 animals each. During 90 days, animals of G1 were given distilled water orally, while other groups received 137.50 mg/kg body weight (bw) of cypermethrin. In addition, G3, G4 and G5 received respectively 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg bw of ethanol extract of Bersama engleriana leaves. The testicular concentration of malondialdehyde, the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase decreased significantly (P<0.05) in guinea pigs exposed to cypermethrin and ethanol extract of B. engleriana leaves compared with those exposed to cypermethrin only (G2), while the reverse effect was observed concerning the activity of peroxidases. The time of reaction of male guinea pig in the presence of females and the percentage of abnormal spermatozoa decreased significantly (P<0.05) in animals treated with the insecticide and the ethanol extract of B. engleriana leaves with respect to G2 animals. The weight of testes, the serum level of testosterone, the sperm count, mobility and the percentage of spermatozoa with normal plasma membrane increased significantly (P<0.05) in guinea pigs treated with ethanol extract of B. engleriana leaves compared with those submitted to cypermethrin only. The histological sections of testes in animals exposed to cypermethrin and ethanol extract of B. engleriana leaves showed a normal structure compared with those exposed to cypermethrin only, of which sections of testes revealed the presence of immature germinal cells in the seminiferous tubules lumen. Hence, ethanol extract of B. engleriana leaves prevent the induction of oxidative stress and reproductive parameters impairment by cypermethrin in male guinea pig.