Hexachlorocyclohexane‐Induced Testicular Dysfunction in Rats

Abstract
Weanling male albino rats were fed 100, 750 and 1500 ppm of technical BHC [a widely used pesticide] for 90 days. There was marked testicular atrophy with reduced tubule size and spermatogenetic arrest at 1500 ppm. Histochemically, there was accumulation of cholesterol-positive lipids in the Sertoli cells and the Leydig cells of the atrophied testis, and biochemical estimation revealed significant increase of total lipid and cholesterol contents. Activities of .DELTA.5 3.beta. hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (.DELTA.5 3.beta. HSDH), 17.beta. hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17.beta. HSDH) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) in the interstitial cells were markedly decreased, suggesting steroidogenic inhibition in the Leydig cells of the atrophied testis due to BHC feeding.

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