Substantial evidence has piled up portending the adverse effects of environmental toxicants on male reproduction.
Lindane, an organochlorine
pesticide, has been reported to perturb testicular functions and hence fertility. To get more insight into the mechanism(s) involved in gonadal effect(s) of
lindane, we sought to investigate whether treatment with
lindane at a low dose would alter the levels of
steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR),
androgen binding protein (ABP) and activities of steroidogenic
enzymes (3beta-
hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17beta-
hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) in adult rat. Furthermore, the levels of H2O2 were monitored to delineate the possible role of H2O2 in mediating the testicular effects of
lindane. Animals used for experimentation were divided into six groups and four animals were maintained in each group. Animals were administered with a single dose of
lindane (5mg/kg
body weight) and terminated at specific post-treatment intervals (0h, 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h and 72h) to analyze the early testicular response. Administration of
lindane resulted in a sequential reduction in the levels of StAR and the activities of steroidogenic
enzymes with a parallel increase in the levels of H2O2. These changes elicited by
lindane were significant at 12h and 24h post-treatment. In case of ABP, a significant decline in the level was found at 12h
after treatment. These findings demonstrate transient inhibitory effects of
lindane on testicular steroidogenesis and the possible role of H2O2 in mediating these effects.