Developmental deficits in male rat pups caused by maternal and dietary administration of chlorpyriphos and cypermethrin: Melatonin’s mitigating effect

Abstract

The ability of melatonin to reduce growth inadequacy induced by parental and nutritional combination administration to chlorpyriphos (Ch) and cypermethrin (Cy) was examined in male albino rats. Oral alimentation was given to gravid dams divided into six groups (n = 10; age: 12 weeks) from the first day of pregnancy to the 21st postnatal day. Distilled water (D_W), Soya oil (SYO), and melatonin (MeL) groups were exposed to 2 mL/kg, 2 mL/kg, and 0.5 mg/kg, respectively; the Ch+Cy group was co-exposed to Ch (1.9 mg/kg of LD₅₀) and Cy (7.5 mg/kg of LD₅₀); the MChCy group was preconditioned with MeL (0.5 mg/kg), followed by co-exposure to Ch and Cy; and the ChCyM group was exposed to Ch and Cy and post treated with MeL. Male offspring rats were tested for ontogeny criteria at various points after accouchement. MeL pre- and post-administration reduced the variation in litter size and weight, number of live/dead pups, anogenital distance , crown-rump length, the timing of eye and ear openings, and testicular descent caused by fetal and nutritional co-administration to Ch+Cy in offspring male albino rats. MeL demonstrated preventive promise as a result of its apparent antioxidative capability.