The effect of thiram on the germ cells of male mice

The effects of thiram or tetramethylthiuram disulphide on the germ cells of Swiss albino male mice were evaluated by analysing spermatocytes (derived from treated spermatogonia) for chromosomal aberrations and by the sperm-head morphology assay. The total doses tested were 80, 200 and 320 mg/kg body weight given by gavage in three consecutive daily doses, the top dose being slightly below the LD50 of thiram. There was a significant increase in the frequency of numerical chromosomal aberrations and abnormal sperms in mice treated with thiram at all dose levels. Such results could have implications for man in that they suggest that undue exposure to thiram could result in the birth of human infants with numerical chromosomal aberrations.