Effect of dicofol formulation on estrous cycle and follicular dynamics in albino rats

It is very important to study the effects of pesticides on reproduction. Dicofol, an organochlorine pesticide, was administered orally at doses of 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg/kg body weight to normal virgin rats for 30 days. There was no significant change in the number of estrous cycles and duration of each phase with 20 mg dicofol. However, there was a significant decrease in number of cycles, duration of proestrus and diestrus, and increase in the duration of the estrus phase after dicofol treatment at 30, 40 and 50 mg. Body weight and organ weight of liver, kidney, adrenal, ovary, uterus thyroid and thymus were not significantly changed in all the dicofol treated rats. There was a significant decrease in healthy follicles with concomitant increase in atretic follicles at higher doses of dicofol treatment. Hence, the effect of dicofol was dose dependent.