Genetic Damage of Mouse Testicular Cells Caused by Mixed Exposure to Emamectin Benzoate and Beta-Cypermethrin

Objective To investigate the effect of a mixture of emamectin benzoate and beta-cypermethrin in the genetic damage of mouse testicular cells.

Methods A total of 40 clean male mice were randomly divided into control group (n=10), emamectin benzoate group (n=10), beta-cypermethrin group (n=10), and emamectin benzoate+beta-cypermethrin group (n=10). After continuous intragastric administration once daily for 30 days, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling and comet assay were used to evaluate testicular cell apoptosis and DNA damage in the mice.

Results Compared with the control group, all the exposure groups had significantly higher apoptosis rates of testicular cells (P < 0.05); the emamectin benzoate+beta-cypermethrin group had significantly greater tail length and Olive tail moment (P < 0.05). There were no significant interactions between emamectin benzoate and beta-cypermethrin in terms of testicular cell apoptosis rate, tail length, Olive tail moment, and tail DNA (%) (P>0.05).

Conclusion Exposure to the mixture of emamectin benzoate and beta-cypermethrin can induce an increase in the apoptosis rate of mouse testicular cells and lead to DNA damage.