Dose-Dependent Hematological, Hepatic and Gonadal Toxicity of Cypermethrin in Wistar Rats

Background: Pesticides are used frequently and may have various adverse effects on human health in different ways. Cypermethrin (CYP) is a synthetic type II pyrethroid pesticide that has been used extensively to control a wide variety of pests in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, and public health. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the dose-dependent hematological, hepatic and gonadal toxicity of CYP in mature male and female Wistar rats. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into nine groups, different doses of CYP were administered for 14 consecutive days and different hematological, hepatic and gonadal parameters were assayed. Results: Erythrocyte count, hemoglobin percentage, hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) content and sperm count were significantly diminished. Serum aspartic and alanine transaminase, hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), testicular cholesterol content were increased following CYP treatment in male rats at 40 and 80 mg/kg body weight (1/9 and 1/4.5 LD50). Elevated ovarian cholesterol content and decreased 17β hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (HSD) levels were also observed in CYP-exposed female rats at a dose level of 34.33 and 51.5 mg/kg body wt. (1/9 and 1/6 LD50). Conclusion: Taken together, CYP initiated hematological, hepatic and gonadal toxicity in mature male rats with a body weight of 40 mg/kg (1/9 LD50) and gonadal toxicity in mature female rats with a body weight of 34.33 mg/kg (1/9 LD50) and above.