Atrazine exposure decreases cell proliferation in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO-K1) cell line

The aim of this study was to determine the toxic effect of atrazine at the ovarian cellular level. Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO-K1) cell line was used to evaluate the degree of in vitro atrazine cytotoxicity and the morphological changes were followed during the cell death. Application of four bioassays confirmed that atrazine decreases ovarian cell proliferation and IC(50) were determined with each assay after 72 h of exposure. The level of apoptosis in atrazine treated cells was low.

Cortisol and immune measures in boars exposed to three-day administration of exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of adrenal stimulation by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on blood cortisol concentration and on circulating total and differential leukocyte counts during and in the 16 days after ACTH administration. Swedish Landrace boars aged approximately 6-7 months were used. ACTH-treated animals (n = 7) were given ACTH intravenously at 10 microg/kg body mass for 3 days. A control group of animals (n = 7) received 1 ml of sterile 0.9% saline intramuscularly. ACTH induced a highly significant increase (p>0.0001) in serum cortisol in treated boars. On the day after the last ACTH dose, the cortisol concentration was significantly higher, but the level of significance was lower than during ACTH administration (p>0.05). During ACTH treatment, a significant increase was recorded in total leukocyte count and neutrophil percentage (p>0.05 to p>0.0001), along with the increase in blood cortisol concentration, whereas percentage lymphocyte count showed a significant decrease. Lymphopenia disappeared upon cessation of treatment, but neutropenia developed in the week after treatment. On all three days of ACTH challenge, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly increased. An increase in eosinophil percentage was recorded on treatment days 1 and 2, whereas ACTH treatment had no effect on basophil percentage. In conclusion, three-day administration of ACTH to young boars during restraint caused effects similar to acute stress situations, as suggested by disappearance of the effects on immune function after the last drug dosage.

Effect of ACTH administration on biochemical and immune measures in boars

The effects of stress induced by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on biochemical and immune changes in Swedish Landrace boars aged approximately 6-7 months were observed during ACTH administration and for 16 days after the cessation of treatment. Adrenocorticotropic hormone treated animals (n = 7) were given intravenously 10 microg/kg body mass of ACTH for 3 days. Control group of animals (n = 7) received intramuscularly 1 ml of sterile 0.9% saline. Total protein and globulin levels were significantly elevated during the induced stress period and for the next 16 days (P < 0.01 to P < 0.0001, respectively). Also, serum immunoglobulin IgG concentration was significantly elevated during and after ACTH injection (P < 0.001 to P < 0.0001). Adrenocorticotropic hormone treatment had no effect on serum albumin, IgA and IgM concentrations. Glucose concentration was significantly decreased on the second day of ACTH administration (P < 0.001) and on day 9 after treatment (P < 0.001). Calcium level was significantly decreased only for 24 h after the last ACTH dosage (P < 0.01). Also, serum phosphorus level was significantly decreased on the first (P < 0.05) and third (P < 0.001) days of ACTH challenge but remained unaffected after the cessation of ACTH treatment. It is concluded that the administration of ACTH to boars results in immune humoral and biochemical changes during stress and the post-stress period.

Disorders of male rat reproductive tract under the influence of atrazine

The effects of atrazine exposure on testicular sperm number, epididymal sperm number and motility and alpha-glucosidase activity in the epididymis were studied in Fischer rats. Histological changes in the testicular tissue were followed by light and electron microscopy. Groups of adult animals were treated i.p. with 60 and 120 mg atrazine kg(-1) body wt. twice a week over 60 days. The results indicate a decrease in the body weight and relative weights of pituitary and ventral prostate vs control, measured on the last day of treatment in both treated groups. Testicular sperm number (expressed as number of sperm per 500 Sertoli cells) in atrazine-treated groups increased with the treatment time due to the reduced sperm motility. Therefore atrazine treatment provoked a significant decrease in sperm number and motility in epididymis, measured after the last day of treatment. alpha-Glucosidase activity in the epididymis, after the last day of treatment, showed a decrease in both treated groups vs control values. Histological analysis of testicular tissue from treated rats showed the cell disorganization and cell clusters together with spermatocytes. Electron microscopy presented differently vacuolated cytoplasm, collagen fibre was reduced, Leydig cells were of irregular shape with unequal form and cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum were accentuated and softly widened. In Sertoli cell cytoplasm, atrazine treatment provoked degenerative changes. According to the results obtained, it is evident that atrazine exerted morphological changes and a toxic effect on sperm and their motility.

Effects of atrazine on reproductive performance in the rat

The effects of subacute exposure to atrazine on body weight, ovarian cycling, conception rate and the size of litters in Fischer strain rats were studied. An atrazine dose of 120 mg kg-1 body wt given p.o. daily for 7 days to both female and male rats caused statistically significant loss of body weight in both sexes during the period of treatment. After the cessation of treatment the body weight of female rats remained below control body weights at least for 2 weeks. In male rats the difference in body weights narrowed with time and reached control level 5 days after the last dose. Atrazine caused a significant increase in the relative weights of pituitary and prostate. Atrazine also transiently prolonged the oestrous cycle, characterized by extended vaginal dioestrus. As a result of disturbed ovarian cycling, the rate of successful mating decreased in the first week after treatment when both sexes were exposed or exposed females were mated with an unexposed male. No similar effect was observed when only the males were exposed. The size of litters did not differ significantly between experimental groups.

Effect of pesticides on oestradiol-receptor complex formation in rat uterus cytosol

The effect of gamma-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane), 2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine (atrazine) and 2-methylthio-4,6-bis-isopropylamino-s-triazine (prometryne) on the formation of a specific oestradiol-receptor complex in the rat uterus cytosol has been examined in vitro and in vivo. Both in vitro and in vivo, the pesticides significantly (P < 0.001) inhibited the formation of the complex in the rat uterus cytosol. The decrease in the number of free specific binding sites on the receptors was determined. The affinity of binding was not modified under the influence of pesticides, and the Kd value was of the same order of magnitude (10(-9) M). The inhibition was found to be fully non-competitive.

Testosterone metabolism and formation of cytosol 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone-receptor complex in the rat prostate in vitro: Effects of lindane and malathion

The effects of gamma-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane) and O,O-dimethyl-S-(1,2-dicarbethoxyethyl)phosphorodithioate (malathion) on testosterone metabolism in rat prostate tissue in vitro was investigated. The influence of lindane on the formation of 5alpha-androstan-17beta-ol-3-one (5alpha-DHT)-receptor complex in the rat prostatic cytosol has also been examined. Lindane and malathion inhibited the formation of 5alpha-DHT, and lindane caused a decrease in the formation of 5alpha-androstane-3,17-dione (androstanedione) in the rat prostate tissue. A mixture of lindane and malathion exerted a synergistic effect on testosterone metabolism in the rat prostate, as indicated by lower 5alpha-DHT and higher 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol formation. The presence of lindane significantly inhibited 5alpha-DHT-receptor complex formation in the rat prostatic cytosol, and this inhibition was of a fully noncompetitive type.

[Induction of ovulation by means of synthetic LH-RH following unsuccessful stimulation with clomide]

Synthetic LH-RH was used to induce ovulation and pregnancy in 6 women with suspected hypothalamic anovulation. The women had been previously treated with Clomid, but according to indirect evidence this drug either failed to induce ovulation or the women had insufficient luteal phase. After treatment with LH-RH one pregnancy occurred and in 3 more cases indirect evidence indicated that ovulation had occurred.