Apoptosis in adult rabbit testes during subacute endosulfan toxicity

Effects of endosulfan toxicity on testes and testosterone inhibition, and the effect of Vitamin C were studied in twenty-four male New Zealand White rabbits, divided into four groups, and given during 6 weeks either endosulfan alone, endosulfan and Vitamin C together, Vitamin C alone or the corn oil vehicle for endosulfan alone (control). Serum testosterone concentration decreased in response to endosulfan alone, but concurrent treatment with Vitamin C ameliorated the toxic effect on serum testosterone. The endosulfan regimen caused gross hyperemia and slight hemorrhage in some testes but histopathological findings of severe degeneration and necrosis in testes of some rabbits amplified the evidence of toxicity, as also did the severe apoptotic activity observed in Sertoli and Leydig cells. In contrast, concurrent treatment with Vitamin C significantly ameliorated other aspects of endosulfan toxicity. The findings relate to potential adverse effects of indiscriminate use of pesticides on human and animal fertility.