Testicular toxicity of thiram in rat: morphological and biochemical evaluations

Tetramethylthiuram disulphide (Thiram), a dithiocarbamate fungicide was administered to male rats through gavage at dose 5, 10 and 25 mg/kg/day for 30, 60 and 90 days. A significant increase in relative testes weight (GSI) was observed at dose (25 mg/kg/d) after 90 days exposure, associated with mild pathomorphological changes. This included degeneration of seminiferous tubules with sloughing of germinal cells and accumulation of edematous fluid in tubular lumen. The activity of testicular enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) were increased significantly in dose dependent manner. The activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and acid phosphatase (ACP) decreased significantly while serum cholesterol and testicular free sialic acid were increased at all dose levels. The alterations in the activity of testicular enzymes associated with marked increase in GSI and pathomorphological changes suggest that thiram induces testicular dysfunctions in rats.