Study On Reproductive Toxicity Of Ganciclovir With Potential Application In Rodential Biocontrol

AIM: Ganciclovir (GCV), which has been an antivirus drug for clinical use, is potential to develop as an effective antifertility agent for rodential biocontrol. The current study was performed to assess the reproductive toxicity of GCV in mice, investigate the mechanism of male infertility caused by GCV, and evaluate effect of this antifertility rodenticide in wild field and potential toxicity on avian.METHODS: The male toxicity caused by GCV was determined by mating trial, sperm counting and viability, and histopathological examination. The mechanism of male fertility caused by GCV was detected by the measurements of SOD, GSH-PX, MDA and some characteristic enzymes in testis. The serum biochemistry was carried for identification of potential toxicity on avian. The rodential biocontrol with GCV in wild field was performed in Chongqing Municipality and Zhuozhou in Hebei Province.RESULTS: In sperm counting and viability assays, number and viability of sperm was restrained by GCV. Histopathological examination revealed a dose-dependent effect of GCV on sperms in testis. In studies of male trial, GCV-exposed males got low reproductive index and fertility index. The activities of SOD and GSH-PX were decreased in GCV high-dose group. According the pigeons' body weights and serum data, no dose-dependent toxicity of GCV was detected in avian. In rodential control studies in Chongqing and Zhuozhou, the RPIs (22%, 25%, 33%), which were less than 40%, revealed the excellent rodential-control effect.CONCLUSION: GCV is an antifertility agent targeting the testis of male mice and is potential to develop as an effective antifertility agent for rodential biocontrol.