Effect of pesticide exposure on the Female Rats and their pups throughout their Gestation Period

Abstract

The present study shows the effect of pesticide exposure (mosquito coil smoke and hit spray) on the female rats and their pups throughout their gestation period. This study was carried out using female Wistar rats (200-250gms) Female rats when exposed to mosquito coil smoke containing d-transallethrin and Hit spray containing imiprothrin 0.07% and cypermethrin (0.2%) for a period of 5 hours per day throughout their gestation period The exposed female rat produces statistically significant decrease in the body weight and increase in gestation duration as compared to control group in this study. The morphological parameters of rat pups like crown rump length, brain size, forelimb size, hindlimb size, tail length were observed and significant differences (p<0.05) in these parameters against control were analyzed. Exposed group rat pups shows significant decrease in their morphological parameters like body weight, brain size, forelimb size, hindlimb size, tail length as compared to the control group. No abnormalities including microcephaly, anopthalmia, micromelia were found in this study. Results of the present study indicate that the exposure of pesticides during gestational period in females is potentially harmful to the growth and development of the foetus.