Organophosphorous pesticide exposure increases the frequency of sperm sex null aneuploidy.

Abstract

It has been estimated that 4 of 1,000 live births and 35% of spontaneous abortions are aneuploid and that an important proportion of embryo and newborn aneuploidy is of paternal origin. Exposure to organophosphorous pesticides (OP) has been associated with sperm hyperploidy/polyploidy. Therefore, we aimed to assess the frequency of sperm aneuploidy (X, Y, and 18) and its relationship with urinary OP metabolites in agricultural workers. We performed multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization on samples from nine men obtained before and during the pesticide spraying season to assess sperm aneuploidy. We measured urinary OP metabolite levels by gas-liquid chromatography. Aneuploidies were found in 0.67% of total sperm nuclei. The most frequent aneuploidy was the lack of a sexual chromosome or sex null (0.19%), followed by XY18 (0.15%) and XY18-18 (0.06%). OP metabolites detected at higher concentrations were dimethylthiophosphate, dimethyldithiophosphate, and diethylphosphate (DEP). There were no differences in average aneuploidy frequency or urinary metabolite levels between samples collected before and after exposure. However, Poisson regression analysis adjusted for age, alcohol intake, and sperm concentration showed significant associations between OP metabolite concentrations and increased frequency of sperm aneuploidies. The association was more evident between DEP and sex null, and the risk increased further during the spraying season. Thus, OP exposure could interfere with sperm chromosome segregation and increase the risk for genetic syndromes, such as Turner's. Further studies are required to assess the prevalence of spontaneous abortions, birth defects, and genetic syndromes in agricultural communities.

Dialkyl phosphate urinary metabolites and chromosomal abnormalities in human sperm

“…Also, an increased prevalence of sperm aneuploidies in chromosomes X, Y, and 18 was also observed in these workers. A cross-sectional study among agricultural workers also found similar significant associations between frequencies of sperm aneuploidy and organophosphate urinary metabolites (Recio et al, 2001). The most frequent aneuploidy observed was the lack of a sex chromosome or sex null (0.19%), followed by XY18 (0.15%).…”

“…In our study, the metabolites detected at highest concentrations were DMP, DMTP and DEP. Similarly studies have reported DMTP as the metabolite detected at highest concentration, followed by DMDTP and DEP (Recio et al, 2001), however this study consisted of a farmworker population where dimethoate was frequently applied. Dimethoate devolves to all three dimethyl metabolites; however, in general populations, DMDTP is infrequently detected (Barr et al, 2004).…”

“…Limited epidemiological information has been published about the effects of OP insecticides and their association with sex chromosome disomy (Padungtod et al, 1999; Recio et al, 2001). Increased frequency of total sperm aneuploidies (0.30%) were observed among Chinese pesticide workers manufacturing methyl parathion, ethyl parathion, and metamidophos, compared with the controls (0.19%) (Padungtod et al, 1999).…”

“…OPs have been associated with effects on thyroid hormone levels (Lacasaña et al, 2010), decreased semen volume and sperm count (Yucra et al, 2008; Recio-Vega et al, 2008), lower sperm concentration (Perry et al, 2007b), abnormal morphology and decreased sperm motility (Hossain et al, 2010), DNA damage/fragmentation in sperm (Meeker et al, 2004; Muñiz et al, 2008; Atherton et al, 2009), and sperm chromatin structure alteration (Sanchez-Pena et al, 2004). However, limited information has been published about associations between OPs and sperm abnormalities (Padungton et al, 1999; Recio et al, 2001). …”

Comparative effect of technical and commercial formulations of methamidophos on sperm quality and DNA integrity in mice

“…In Mexico, the intoxication cases reported to health institutions (thousands/year) are underestimated because in rural communities not all poisoning cases are of the knowledge of health institutions and about 25% correspond to OP exposure, representing a current important public health problem (AMIFAC,). In addition to the well‐known OP neurotoxicity, they have been associated with deleterious effects on male reproductive endpoints such as poor semen quality (Mathew et al,; Padungtod et al,; Recio et al,), hormone imbalance (Padungtod et al,; Recio et al,; Yucra et al,), sperm DNA damage and altered sperm chromatin structure (Padungtod et al,; Recio et al,; Sánchez‐Peña et al,), and diminished sperm fertilizing ability (Piña‐Guzmán et al,).…”