Carbofuran induced block of compensatory ovarian growth in hemicastrated albino mice.

Abstract

Carbofuran, a systemic N-methyl carbamate pesticide was orally administered at doses of 0.4, 0.7, 1 and 1.3 mg/(kg day) to normal hemicastrated (HC) mice for 15 consecutive days to investigate the effects on compensatory ovarian growth. Sham-operated and hemicastrated control mice were administered a similar quantity of olive oil. The vaginal smear and body weight of the mice were recorded daily and mice were sacrificed on day 16. The results revealed that the HC control mice showed 54.58% increase in the ovary weight of the remaining left ovary and many follicles, corpora lutea and showed normal estrous cycle as compared to Sham-operated control mice. The remaining left ovaries of the mice treated with 1.3 mg carbofuran showed 0.82% increase in the ovary weight and significant decrease in the number of developing follicles, corpora lutea, increase in many atretic follicles, the estrous cycle and its phases were affected when compared to HC control mice. In HC mice treated with 1 mg/(kg day) carbofuran resulted in 12.63% increase in the ovary weight and showed significant decrease in follicles, corpora lutea and many increased atretic follicles. The estrous cycle was affected with significant decrease in estrus phase and increase in diestrus phase. In HC mice treated with 0.7 mg/(kg day) carbofuran showed 26.30% increase in ovary weight and showed normal number of follicles and the mice showed normal number of estrous cycles but the estrus and diestrus phases were affected significantly. However, HC mice treated with 0.4 mg/(kg day) carbofuran revealed 33.09% increase in the ovary weight with no significant change in the follicles and estrous cycle as compared with that of HC control mice. There was no significant change in the body weight gain and weight of the organs such as uterus, kidney, adrenals, liver, spleen, thymus and thyroid in all the carbofuran treated mice. These observed effects of carbofuran on ovary, follicles and estrous cycle are considered to be hormonal imbalance.