OBJECTIVEThis study was designed to evaluate the toxic effects of Atrazine (ATZ) on the reproductive system of male rats.

METHODSMale Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to ATZ by gavage at dosages of 0, 38.5, 77, and 154 mg/kg bw/day for 30 d. The toxic effects of ATZ to rats were assessed through histopathologcal observation, spermatozoa quality evaluation, testicular marker enzyme indicators, antioxidant capacity and reproductive hormone levels.

RESULTSSignificant adverse effects on reproductive system were observed in rats exposed to ATZ at different dosages compared with 0 mg/kg group, including an irregular and disordered arrangement of the seminiferous epithelium in 154 mg/kg group; a decreased spermatozoa number and an increased spermatozoa abnormality rate in 77 and 154 mg/kg groups; decreased levels of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) with the increasing of ATZ concentration; a decreased level of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in a dose-dependent manner, and a decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) level and an increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content in 154 mg/kg group; and decreased serum levels of testosterone (T) and inhibin-B (INH-B) and an increased serum level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in 77 and 154 mg/kg groups, and an increased serum level of luteinizing hormone (LH) in 154 mg/kg group.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggested that relatively high doses of ATZ could exert reproductive toxicity of male rats.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Atrazine ; toxicity ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Herbicides ; toxicity ; Hormones ; blood ; Male ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; abnormalities ; drug effects ; Testis ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Toxicity Tests, Chronic

To identify a prognostic marker that is less sensitive to variations in the elapsed time since paraquat ingestion, we assessed the time between paraquat ingestion and a negative dithionite urine test as a prognostic parameter in patients with acute paraquat intoxication. Forty-one patients with acute paraquat intoxication were enrolled in this study and analyzed to verify significant determinants of mortality and organ dysfunction. The amount of paraquat ingested, paraquat plasma levels, and the time to a negative urine dithionite test were significant independent risk factors predicting mortality. The amount of paraquat ingestion, and the time to a negative urine dithionite test were independent risk factors predicting organ dysfunction. With a cut-off value of 34.5 hr for the time to negative conversion of the urine dithionite test, the sensitivity and specificity for mortality were 71.4% and 75.0%, respectively. The incidence of acute kidney injury and respiratory failure above 34.5 hr were 100% and 85.0%, respectively. In conclusion, the time to a negative urine dithionite test is the reliable marker for predicting mortality and/or essential organ failure in patients with acute paraquat intoxication, who survive 72 hr.
Acute Kidney Injury/etiology/mortality ; Adult ; Aged ; Dithionite/*urine ; Female ; Herbicides/blood/*toxicity ; Humans ; Liver Diseases/etiology/mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat/blood/*toxicity ; Respiratory Insufficiency/etiology/mortality ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo examine the effect of simazine on selected immune parameters in BALB/c mice.

METHODSSimazine (90, 200, 400 mg/kg) was administrered by oral gavage for 21 days in adult BALB/c mice. The negative control group unith distilled water and positive control group administered with cyclophosphamide in abdominal cavity were also established. After the last simazine dose, the mice were sacrificed, and blood, spleens, and thymuses were collected and processed for detection. The relative weight of spleen and thymus was calculated. The rate of T cell in spleen and the concentration of IL-2, IL-4, IgG and IgM were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSThe weights of mice were decreased in 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg simazine groups. Thymus and spleen weights were decreased in 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg simazine groups compared with the negative control group. The concentration of IL-2, IL-4, IgG and IgM in serum of 200 mg/kg group were (108.50 +/- 3.20) pg/ml, (36.54 +/- 3.36) pg/ml, (46.25 +/- 7.41) μg/ml, (17.58 +/- 2.23) μg/ml respectively;The concentration of IL-2, IL-4, IgG and IgM in serum of 400 mg/kg group were (85.70 +/- 4.00) pg/ml, (35.92 +/- 2.29) pg/ml, (40.08 +/- 6.80) μg/ml, (11.92 +/- 3.23) μg/ml respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). These results were decreased significantly compared with negative group.

CONCLUSIONSimazine can inhibit the cellular immune function and the humoral immune function.

Animals ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Herbicides ; toxicity ; Immunity, Cellular ; drug effects ; Immunity, Humoral ; drug effects ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Simazine ; toxicity ; T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects