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REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO CONAZOLE FUNGICIDES IN THE MALE RAT
Citation:
Goetz, A K., C. BLYSTONE, H. REN, J. E. SCHMID, H. P. NICHOLS, W. BAO, D. S. BEST, M. G. NAROTSKY, D. C. WOLF, J. C. ROCKETT, AND D. J. DIX. REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO CONAZOLE FUNGICIDES IN THE MALE RAT. Presented at Society of Toxicology, New Orleans, LA, March 6-10, 2005.
Description:
Conazoles are a class of fungicides used in pharmaceutical and agricultural applications. Three agricultural conazoles were selected, representing a range of reported cancer and reproductive effects, for a study exposing litters (16-20 per dose group) from gestation day 6to postnatal day (PND) 99. Wistar Han rats were exposed via feed to vehicle, myclobutanil (M, 100, 500, or 2000 ppm), propiconazole (P, 100, 500, or 2500 ppm), or triadimefon (T, 100, 500, or 1800 ppm). One male per litter was sacrificed at PND 1, 22, 50, 92 or 99. Measurements included anogenital distance (AGD) at PND0, body weight (BW), organ weights, serum hormone levels, and age at preputial separation (PPS). Mating assays were conducted with adult males and untreated females. AGD was increased by the high concentration of all 3 conazoles.T1800 delayed PPS. Liver weights increased at PND50 by M2000 and P2500, and at PND92 by P2500 and T1800. Testis weights increased at PND22 by M2000, at PND50 by M2000 and T500, and at PND92-99 by T1800. Epididymal weights increased at PND92-99 by T1800, and ventral prostate weights increased at PND92 by M500, M2000 and T500. Serum testosterone increased at PND92-99 by M2000, P2500, T500 and T1800.Thyroid weights increased at PND92 by T1800, and total serum thyroxine levels decreased at PND92 by T1800. Mating assays identified impaired fertility by M2000 and T1800, apparently due to ejaculation failure. Effects on AGD, PPS, testis and accessory sex gland weights, serum hormones and fertility represent adverse reproductive outcomes following long-term exposures to conazoles. Future efforts will focus on elucidating mechanisms underlying these effects.