Mancozeb, a fungicide of ethylenebisdithiocarbamate group was orally administered at 800 mg/kg
body weight to male Swiss albino mice for 5, 10, 20 and 30 days. Daily
body weight of the mice were recorded. The mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation after 24 h of terminal exposure of
mancozeb. Testes weight decreased significantly in 20 and 30 days
mancozeb treated mice. However, there was a significant decrease in the number of spermatogonia, diameter of spermatocytes and spermatids in 20 days and number of spermatids in 10 days
mancozeb treated mice. Histologic studies of the testis of the mice treated with
mancozeb for long duration revealed spermatogenesis inhibition reflected by significant decrease in the number of spermatogenic cells and sperms, when compared with that of controls. In the mice treated with
mancozeb for 20 and 30 days showed significant decrease in the weight of the prostate gland. However weight of Cowper's glands decreased significantly in 30 days
mancozeb treated mice. There was significant decrease in the kidney, spleen and liver weight, where as thyroid weight increased significantly in mice treated with
mancozeb for 30 days. However, thymus weight increased significantly only in the mice treated with
mancozeb for 10, 20 and 30 days. In mice treated with
mancozeb for 20 days caused significant decrease in the level of
protein and a significant increase in the level of total
lipids in the testis. However, there was significant decrease in the level of
glycogen in the kidney. In mice treated with
mancozeb for 30 days caused significant decrease in the levels of
protein and
glycogen and significant increase in the level of total
lipids in the testis and liver and a significant decrease in the
protein,
glycogen and total
lipids in the kidney. These observed effects of
mancozeb on testis and biochemical constituents may be due to hormonal imbalance in any of the stages in the hypothalamo-hypophysial-testicular axis.