RESUMO
Male rats exposed to the aerosols of the pyrethroid insecticide Matox at a level of one tablet/36 m 3 for 10 hours daily up to 2, 4 and 8 weeks revealed a significant decrease in weight of testis, epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate gl and s after 4 and 8 weeks. The sperm motility percentage was significantly decreased after 2, 4 and 8 weeks of exposure to Matox aerosols, while the sperm cell concentration was significantly decreased after 4 and 8 weeks of exposure to Matox aerosols. Male rats exposed to Matox aerosols showed a significant decrease in the level of LH and testosterone hormone after 4 and 8 weeks. Meanwhile, the FSH level was significantly reduced only after 8 weeks of exposure. Cytogenetic studies revealed that Matox have neither visible effect on chromosomes structure and arrangement nor numerical chromosomal aberrations. However, the miotic division of testicular cells in Matox treated group were highly decreased when compared with that of control one. Hematological studies showed that Matox aerosols induced a significant decrease in RBCs, WBCs counts, Hb content and PCV after 2, 4 and 8 weeks