Mancozeb-a fungicide of ethylenebisdithiocarbamate group was orally administered at doses of 500, 1,000 and 1,500 mg/kg body weight/day for 30, 90,180 and 360 days. Signs of toxicity mortality pattern and loss in body weight were observed in dose dependent manner. However, signs of intoxication and mortality pattern were more pronounced till the exposure of 90 days. A significant increase in testes and decrease in epididymis weight were associated with degeneration in seminiferous and epididymal tubules with loss of sperms. The decrease in gonadal acid phosphatase (ACP), succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) and increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were observed with increased serum cholesterol. Sialic acid and protein content of testis and epididymis were also decreased in dose dependent manner. The study has thus indicated marked biochemical and pathological changes in gonads of male rats after chronic exposure to mancozeb.

Mancozeb, an ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (EBDC), has been studied for its effects on rat thyroid. Single oral administration of mancozeb at different concentrations (9600, 12 000, 15 000 and 18 750 mg kg−1 body wt) has derived the oral LD50 value as 15 000 mg kg−1 body wt. in male rats. Mancozeb at repeated oral doses of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg kg−1 day−1 for periods of 30, 90, 180 and 360 days has produced dose‐dependent signs of toxicity and death of animals. The fungicide caused a significant increase in thyroid/body weight ratio and histopathological changes. Reduced levels of thyroid radioiodine (125I) uptake, serum protein‐bound iodine (PB125I), thyroxine (T4) and reduced activity of thyroid peroxidase (TPO) have also been observed after exposure to mancozeb. Thus, mancozeb has been shown to produce marked structural and functional changes in thyroid of rats.© 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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