Histopathological, biochemical and molecular changes of reproductive function after malathion exposure of prepubertal male mice

Abstract

We aimed in the present work to evaluate the implication of oxidative stress in the toxicological effects of subchronic malathion exposure on reproductive function in mice. In this respect, we used prepubertal male mice separated into two groups: a control and a malathion treated group. Animals were treated by gavage (per orally, p.o.) with malathion at 200 mg kg⁻¹, body weight (b.w.) during thirty days. We found that malathion treatment leads to the alteration of semen parameters such as a decrease of testosterone level and acetylcholinesterase activity, an induction of apoptosis and necrosis in spermatozoa as well as a decrease of reproductive performance of male mice. The histopathological examination showed a marked change in the testis tissue. Malathion intoxication was by an increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) level, a decrease of sulfhydril groups (–SH) content, as well as a depletion of antioxidant enzyme activities such as catalase (CAT), total superoxide dismutase (SOD), Cu/Zn–SOD and Mn–SOD in testis and epididymis. More importantly, malathion treatment clearly induced a decrease in mRNA expression of COX isoenzyme in cauda and epididymis as well as GPx-4 in testis and GPx-5 in epididymis. These data suggest that a marked deregulation of reproductive function in prepubertal male mice exposed to malathion might be partly due to pro-oxidant properties of the examined compound.