ABSTRACT:

The study aimed to investigate the reproductive toxicity induced by oral exposure to the pyrethroid insecticide (Cypermethrin) and the organophosphorus insecticide (Chlorpyrifos), individually and in combination in male albino rats. Twenty mature male albino rats were divided into four groups of five animals each. The groups received the following treatments: Control group was administered with distilled water, the second group received Cypermethrin (19 mg/kg/day) , the third (Chlorpyrifos (25 mg/kg/day) and the fourth ( Cypermethrin (19.0mg/kg ) plus Chlorpyrifos (25.0mg/kg) orally daily for 28 days. The results revealed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the weight of both the right and left epididymis in the combined insecticide treatment group compared to the control and animals exposed to chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin separately Furthermore, the volume of the testis was significantly (p< 0.05) lower in the cypermethrin exposed group compared with the control. The results of the oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters revealed a significant (p< 0.05) decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA), a measure of lipid peroxidation in the chlorpyrifos plus cypermethrin exposed group compared with the control. While a significant (p< 0.05) decrease was also observed between the cypermethrin exposed group and the group administered with the combination of cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos. Markers of liver function enzymes such as ALP, ALT and AST evaluated in this study showed a significant (p< 0.05) elevation in the chlorpyrifos exposed group compared with the group administered with both chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin. Analysis of ALT also revealed a significant (p< 0.05) elevation of the enzyme in the combined insecticide treatment group compared with the control and cypermethrin exposed groups.