Effect of Common Household Insecticides Used in Nigeria on Rat Male Reproductive Hormones

8 PAGES (4016 WORDS) Biochemistry Article/Essay

Background: The use of household insecticides for the eradication of insects especially mosquitoes
in Nigeria is increasing. These insecticides are used without consideration of their adverse effect on
human health.
Aim: This study was aimed at accessing the effect of common household insecticides used in
Nigeria on male reproductive hormones of Wistar rats.
Methodology: Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of six each and kept in different
rooms. Rats in group 1 were exposed to Rambo, those in group 2 were exposed to Mortein, those in
group 3 were exposed to Raid, those in group 4 were exposed to Baygon while those in group 5
were not exposed to any insecticide and served as the control group. The exposure was done twice
a day via inhalation route. Throughout the experiment, animals were fed
ad libitum with standard feed and drinking water. After twenty-one days of exposure, they were sacrificed after an overnight

fast under diethyl ether as anesthesia. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture. Follicle
stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone levels were determined
using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: Results showed that insecticides caused an increase in FSH but decrease in LH and
testosterone levels significantly when compared to those in control animals at P