Ann Clin Toxicol | Volume 1, Issue 1 | Review Article | Open Access
Anindita Mitra1 and Saumen Kumar Maitra2*
1Department of Zoology, Bankura Christian College, India
2Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, India
*Correspondance to: Saumen Kumar Maitra
Fulltext PDFIn recent years, second generation of Organophosphate Pesticides (OP), due to their target specific actions and low bioaccumulation properties, have replaced the most persistent organochlorines. However, subsequent studies revealed acute toxicity of organophosphates in non-target animals. Besides causing mortality, some OPs even at very low doses are known to affect the physiology of reproduction in higher vertebrates. Chronic sub-lethal exposure of birds to OPs may lead to reduced fertility, suppression of egg formation, eggshell thinning and impaired incubation and chick rearing behaviors. Likewise, OP-induced changes in sexual behavior and performance, adverse effects on onset of puberty, gamete production and transport, abnormal reproductive cycle, premature reproductive senescence and infertility are reported in several mammalian studies. Due to their ability to cross the placental barrier, different OPs may affect the fetal brain, growth, and survivability in rats. The mechanisms by which OPs induce reproductive toxicity in animals include altered release of neurotransmitters leading to impaired functions of Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) regulatory axis, and/or suppressed steroidogenesis in the gonads. This review essentially summarizes existing information on the adverse effects of organophosphates on the reproductive functions in higher vertebrates and underlines the potential mechanism of reproductive toxicity induced by them.
Organophosphate pesticides; Reproductive toxicity; Birds; Mammals
Mitra A, Maitra SK. Reproductive Toxicity of Organophosphate Pesticides. Ann Clin Toxicol. 2018; 1(1):1004.