Subacute oral toxicity of endosulfan in male new zealand white rabbits.

ABSTRACT The present study was conducted using 6 to 8 month old New Zealand white male rabbits (nine rabbits per treatment group). Daily gavages of 3, 1.5, 0.75, or 0 mg endosulfan/kg BW in corn oil resulted in the death of five (55%), three (33%), zero (0%), and zero (0%) rabbits, respectively, in 30 days. All rabbits were monitored for any observable toxic symptoms throughout the experimental period (30 d) and they also were weighed weekly to monitor body weight gain. All deaths occurred within the first 3 weeks and nervous symptoms were observed only for a few minutes before death. Alterations recorded in hematological parameters within the groups (hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and total erythrocyte count) were due to endosulfan exposure. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were significantly elevated in the 3 mg/kg dose group. Gross post-mortem and histopathological changes in various organs (lung, liver, kidney, and testes) of rabbits treated with endosulfan were observed with typical organochlorine dose-dependent signs of toxicity. Although some animals appeared to adjust to relatively high daily doses of endosulfan for 30 days, biochemical and histological evidence indicated varied liver and kidney damage relative to dosage administered to these animals. The current subacute (30 day) study suggested a NOAEL of 0.75 mg endosulfan/kg in New Zealand white rabbits.

Protective role of ascorbic acid on subacute sperm toxicity in male New Zealand white rabbits treated with endosulfan.

The ameliorating effect of oral ascorbic acid (AA) was evaluated against changes in sperm parameters in New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits treated with endosulfan. Rabbits (6 to 8 months old) were divided into four groups of six animals each. Rabbits in TRT-I served as control and received corn oil by oral gavage for 6 weeks. Rabbits in TRT-II received endosulfan (1 mg/kg bw per day) in corn oil. TRT-III group received oral corn oil daily and ascorbic acid (AA; 20 mg/kg bw) every other day for 6 weeks. TRT-IV group received the same amounts of endosulfan and AA. Endosulfan alone significantly reduced the sperm count and motility and increased the presence of sperm with morphologic problems. AA treatment showed significant amelioration when coupled with endosulfan. Ameliorations were up to control levels in all cases except for sperm motility. The data suggested that AA has beneficial influences in neutralizing the toxic effects of endosulfan in the spermatologic parameters of NZW males.