Effect of Imidacloprid on Reproduction of Female Albino Rats in Three Generation Study

Abstract

In the present study, the effect of oral administration of imidacloprid over three generations on biochemical, histological and physiological alterations in female rats was assessed. Female rats were divided into three groups. Group 1 was control and was given corn oil, group 2 was administered imidacloprid at the rate of 10 mg/kg bw/day, group 3 was administered imidacloprid at the rate of 20 mg/kg bw/day. F0 and F1 generation female albino rats were dissected for this study. Weight of ovary decreased significantly at higher dose of treated female rats of F0 and F1 generation. Histopathology of ovary of group 2 and group 3 revealed different stages of follicles. The level of acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) increased significantly at higher dose in the ovary of females of both the generations. In either generation, non-significant changes were observed in fertility index, live birth index, gestation lengths and sex ratio. Female F1 pups in the 20 mg/kg/day group showed a significant decreased body weight on postnatal day 21 as compared to F0 pups on day 21. Conclusion: The lower dose of imidacloprid (10 mg/kg/day T1) had no effect on various reproductive parameters of female rats and higher dose (20 mg/kg/day T2) of imidacloprid had some significant effects on feed consumption and reproductive parameters for three generation reproductive study.