Induction of chromosome aberrations in mouse germ cells by the organophosphorous insecticides Dursban and Dichlorvos and sperm abnormalities in the treated mice

ABSTRACT

The ability of the two organophosphorous insecticides "Dursban" and "Dichlorvos" to induce chromosomal abnormalities in mouse spermatocytes was investigated. Male swiss mice were intraperitoneally [i.p] injected with the doses 2, 4, 10 mg/kg[-1] body wt. of "Dursban" [dissolved in 0.1 DMSO] and 2.8, 3.5, 7 mg/kg[-1] body wt. of "Dichlorvos" and samples were taken 6. 24 and 48 hrs after the treatment. The percentage of chromosomal aberrations in diakinesis - metaphase I cells increased by increasing the concentration of both insecticides and reached its maximum 24 hrs following i.p. injection, its highest value was 19.3 +/- 1.61 [P < 0.01] and 16.5 +/- 0.63 [P < 0.01] 24 hrs after treatment with the highest dose of "Dursban" and "Dichlorvos" respectively. Compared with 25.5 +/- 0.97 [P < 0.01], 24 hrs after i.p. injection with mitomycin C" at 1 mg/kg[-1] body wt. The two insecticides induced abnormal chromosomal associations including univalents [autosomal and x-y univalents] and chains, as well as structural and numerical chromosome aberrations. Dursban and Dichlorvos induced a dose-dependent increase in the percentage of abnormal sperm heads. Its highest value was 15.48 +/- 0.73 [P < 0.01] and 10.8 +/- 0.89 [P < 0.01] after oral treatment with Dursban and Dichlorvos respectively, compared with 18.3 +/- 1.10 [P < 0.01] after treatment with "Mitomycin C"