The present study was conducted to assess the adverse effects of exposure to dicofol pesticide on male albino rats. Two equal groups of rats were daily administered dicofol with high- and low-dose of dicofol (1/20 and 1/80 LD50, i.e. 32.5 and 8.13 mg/kg body weight, respectively.) for 3 months through drinking water. The third group received water only and was kept as control. At the end of three months dosing period, haemoglobin content, activities of certain serum enzymes, urea, and the levels of glucose, creatinine and some hormones were measured. The results were as follows: dicofol decreased red blood cells (RBCS), and white blood cells (WBCS) counts, packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin (Hb) to reach the lowest level in high dose group compared with the low and control groups. However, the pesticide administration increased glucose level and the activity of serum aminotransferases (AST & ALT) activities at high dose group when compared with the low dose and control groups. Dicofol increased also, urea and creatinine levels. The group of rats which was exposed to high dose of dicofol had the lowest levels of testosterone and leutinizing hormone (LH) (p
Key words: Dicofol, organochlorine acaricide, toxicity testing, testosterone, female sex hormones
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