Impairment Of Chlorpyrifos On Spermatogenesis Of Male Mice

Objective: To assess the male reproductive toxicity and explore the possible molecular mechanism of the organophosphate chlorpyrifos. Methods: Adult male mice were treated by oral gavage with chlorpyrifos at doses of 7.0, 15.0 and 30.0 mg/kg for 5 weeks. Results: Chlorpyrifos exposure significantly led to the increase of abnormal morphological sperm at 15.0 and 30.0 mg/kg levels, and the decrease of sperm motility at 30.0 mg/kg level. A histological examination of testes showed histological abnormalities in 15.0 and 30.0 mg/kg exposure groups. Moreover, the decrease in expression levels of genes of zdhhc20 and piwil was accompanied with the alteration in sperm morphology and sperm motility. Conclusion: Chlorpyrifos reduced the reproductive capacity of male mice through the damage to spermatogenesis at 15.0 and 30.0 mg/kg levels.