Chlorpyrifos induced toxicity in reproductive organs of female Wistar rats

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphate (OP) insecticide extensively used in agricultural and domestic settings. Healthy adult female albino rats were divided into three groups of six rats in each. Two groups were dosed orally with CPF in vegetable oil (0.1 and 2.5 mg/kg/day) and third group was given vegetable oil for 8 weeks. Non-significant changes were observed for body weight and feed intake. A disruption in estrous cyclicity was observed with a prolonged metestrous. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility and lipid peroxidation levels increased significantly. Mammary gland whole mounts revealed a significant (P < 0.05–0.0001) increase in the ductal thickness, number of branches, alveolar and terminal end bud number and terminal end bud diameter. A significant increase in ovarian surface epithelium height, follicular diameter and follicular atresia was observed in treated rats (P < 0.05–0.0001). A similar significant increase in the uterine surface epithelium height, endometrial gland epithelium height and myometrium thickness in higher dose group was recorded (P < 0.05–0.0001). Luminal epithelium height and endometrial gland diameter was increased significantly in both the treated groups (P < 0.05–0.0001). The results indicate that sub-chronic exposure of CPF causes oxidative stress and negative effects on the reproductive organs of female rats, which may be a pointer towards beginning of cancer incidence.