Korean Journal of Agricultural Science ISSN:2466-2402(Print) 2466-2410(Online) 농업과학연구

Although pesticides are recognized as necessary substances to improve agriculturalproduction, exposure to pesticides is known to have a direct or indirect adverse effect on thereproductive function of mammals. The present study examines the effects of mancozeb, awell-known fungicide, on the fertility capacity of spermatozoa. Boar spermatozoa exposedto varying concentrations of mancozeb (0.01 - 0.5 μM) were evaluated for motility, motionkinetic parameters, viability, acrosome integrity and the generation of intracellular reactiveoxygen species (ROS) after 30 min or 2 hrs of incubation. A significant reduction in themotility of spermatozoa was observed upon exposure to mancozeb. Similarly, there was asignificant reduction of the motion kinematics of sperm treated with mancozeb as comparedto untreated controls (p < 0.05). The sperm viability percentage and acrosome integrity alsoshowed dose-dependent decreases upon exposure to mancozeb. High concentrations ofmancozeb (0.2 - 0.5 μM) induced higher levels of intracellular ROS production, which resultedin the loss of the sperm membrane and decreased sperm motility due to oxidative stress. Taken together, the results here indicate that direct exposure to mancozeb affects the spermfertility capacity. Hence, careful research that examines the interaction between reproductionand environmental toxins is crucial to prevent fertility disorders in animals.