Spermatotoxic Effect of Hexaconazole in Adult Rats

Hexaconazole is a systemic triazole fungicide used in agricultural practices. The aim of the present investigation is to study the toxic effect of Hexaconazole on the epididymal spermatozoa. The adult male rats were exposed to Hexaconazole at the dose of 25 mg/kg body weight, orally daily for 60 days. The control group received corn oil alone as vehicle. Third group of rats were administered with Hexaconazole for 60 days and left untreated for further period of 60 days. Hexaconazole treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the epididymal sperm count, motility and viability and increased incidence of sperm abnormalities. However, the toxic effect of Hexaconazole was reversible in the withdrawal group. Thus, the present investigation suggests that the chronic low dose treatment of Hexaconazole is capable of inducing epididymal sperm toxicity.