Effect of the pyrethroid insecticide permethrin on the total protein contents of the mammalian testis

ABSTRACT

In the seminiferous tubules of adult normal rat testis, the total proteins were demonstrated in the form of fine granules scattered at random in both the cytoplasm and the nuclei of germ cells and Sertoli cells. The chromatinic proteins in the nuclei of spermatogonia, spermatocytes and old spermatids, as well as the acrosomes and spermatozoa, gave a strong reaction with the mercuric bromophenol blue, whereas the nuclei of young spermatids appeared weakly stained. Moreover, the boundary tissue of the tubules and the interstitial cells were significantly rich in proteins. Oral administration of the pyrethroid insecticide [permethrin] in a dose equal to 1/20 LD50 for one week produced no remarkable changes in the total protein contents of the germinal epithelium. On the other hand, treatment of rats with the same dose of the insecticide for longer periods resulted in a marked loss of the cytoplasmic and chromatinic proteins of spermatogonia and spermatocytes. The Sertoli cells appeared to be not affected by insecticidal treatment