Fipronil Effects on Sexual Behavioral of Male Rats

• Grant number: 11/00047-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2011
• End date: February 29, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Helenice de Souza Spinosa
• Grantee: Flavia Rodrigues Carone
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Fipronil is a pesticide of the phenylpyrazole group, have a large spectrum of action, and has been used to combat ectoparasites of domestic animals, as well as an insecticide in a wide variety of agricultural crops. This pesticide's mechanism of action is the inhibition of chloride ion passage through the chloride channels linked to receptor gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the inhibitory neurotransmitter that is abundant in the central nervous system (CNS) of insects and vertebrates. This neurotransmitter has various functions in the body, and also it is known that GABA plays a significant role in regulating the sexual behavior of mammals. Considering that fipronil blocks the chloride channels linked to GABA and that GABAergic neurotransmission is involved in the sexual behavior of males, we intend to evaluate this work the effects of pesticides on the sexual behavior of male rats. For this, the rats will receive different doses of fipronil, and will be evaluated parameters of sexual behavior, sexual motivation and penile erection.