Single exposure to low dose of lindane causes transient decrease in testicular steroidogenesis in adult male Wistar rats

Substantial evidence has piled up portending the adverse effects of environmental toxicants on male reproduction. Lindane, an organochlorine pesticide, has been reported to perturb testicular functions and hence fertility. To get more insight into the mechanism(s) involved in gonadal effect(s) of lindane, we sought to investigate whether treatment with lindane at a low dose would alter the levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), androgen binding protein (ABP) and activities of steroidogenic enzymes (3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) in adult rat. Furthermore, the levels of H2O2 were monitored to delineate the possible role of H2O2 in mediating the testicular effects of lindane. Animals used for experimentation were divided into six groups and four animals were maintained in each group. Animals were administered with a single dose of lindane (5 mg/kg body weight) and terminated at specific post-treatment intervals (0 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 72 h) to analyze the early testicular response. Administration of lindane resulted in a sequential reduction in the levels of StAR and the activities of steroidogenic enzymes with a parallel increase in the levels of H2O2. These changes elicited by lindane were significant at 12 h and 24 h post-treatment. In case of ABP, a significant decline in the level was found at 12 h after treatment. These findings demonstrate transient inhibitory effects of lindane on testicular steroidogenesis and the possible role of H2O2 in mediating these effects.