Effect of Ridomil on sperm parameters of male albino rats. – U B. Ekaluo, Y B. Ibiang, E V. Ikpeme, F. A. Erem, and B. E. Ekanem
ABSTRACT
This study was undertaken to determine the effect of Ridomil, a fungicide widely used by Cocoa farmers in Cross River State, Nigeria on sperm parameters of male albino rats. Twelve male albino rats of 10 weeks old were used as the mammalian model for this sub-chronic toxicity study. They were assigned to three groups of four rats each and treated with Ridomil at 0, 50 and 100 mg/Kg BW/day respectively, four times a week for nine weeks, via direct mixing in the animal ration. After nine weeks of treatment, the rats were sacrificed and the epididymes were dissected out, weighed and processed for epididymal sperm parameters. Sperm count, sperm motility, sperm viability, sperm morphology and pH of semen did not show any significant differences (P>0.05) between the control and treatment groups. In conclusion, the pesticide RIDOMIL GOLD®, did not cause much changes in rat sperm parameters at the doses used in this sub-chronic toxicity study.