Study of Toxicity and Endocrine Disruptions in Two Classes of Pesticides in Male Albino Rats

Abstract

ndocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous compounds that have the potential to interfere with hormonal regulation and the normal endocrine system, thereby affecting the health of animals and humans. Endocrine disrupting pesticides (EDPs) are the largest group of EDCs in numbers compared to other chemical groups organophosphorus (OP) and carbamate compounds are the most commonly used pesticide in agriculture field especially in Egypt. Their toxicity depends largely on their ability to inhibit cholinesterase activity. In addition to inhibition of acetyl cholinesterase enzyme, they also may induce oxidative stress leading to generation of free radicals, which results in increase of oxidative destruction of lipids (lipid peroxidation) and reduction of glutathione level. Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphorus pesticide (OP), and carbaryl, a carbamate pesticide, are widely used in agricultural. They are generally regarded as the pesticides with high efficiency and low residue.Subchronic exposure to chlorpyrifos and carbaryl alone or in combination result in toxic effect and hormonal damage to human and animals.