The World Health Organization recommends temephos as a nonsystemic organophosphorus pesticide due to its low mammalian toxicity compared with other chemical compounds. Although several studies have reported that temephos may be toxic under certain conditions, little research effort has been made to evaluate its effects on mammalian fertility. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of temephos on sperm functions and male fertility. Initially, cauda epididymis from mouse spermatozoa was incubated with temephos (0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 μM). Then, sperm motility and motion kinematics, capacitation status, intracellular adenosine triphosphate level, lactate dehydrogenase level, protein kinase A (PKA) activity, and degree of tyrosine phosphorylation were analyzed. Finally, the rates of fertilization and early embryonic development were evaluated. Sperm motility and motion kinematics were found to be significantly altered in temephos groups. In addition, the acrosome reaction and capacitation significantly increased and decreased in the 100 μM temephos group, respectively. Intracellular adenosine triphosphate levels significantly decreased in the 1, 10, and 100 μM temephos groups compared with that in the control group. Moreover, PKA activity and tyrosine phosphorylation significantly decreased in most temephos groups. Further, the rates of fertilization and early embryonic development significantly decreased in all temephos groups. Taken together, it was determined that temephos had harmful effects on male fertility. Therefore, the reproductive toxicity of temephos should be considered before its use.

由于与其他化合物相比，它对哺乳动物的毒性较低，世界卫生组织建议将其作为一种非系统性有机磷农药。尽管几项研究报告称，在某些条件下，temephos 可能有毒，但很少有研究努力评估其对哺乳动物生育能力的影响。因此，本研究旨在评估 temephos 对精子功能和男性生育能力的影响。最初，小鼠精子的附睾尾与 temephos（0、0.1、1、10 和 100 μM）一起孵育。然后，分析精子活力和运动学、获能状态、细胞内三磷酸腺苷水平、乳酸脱氢酶水平、蛋白激酶 A (PKA) 活性和酪氨酸磷酸化程度。最后，评估了受精率和早期胚胎发育。发现精子活力和运动运动学在 temephos 组中显着改变。此外，100 μM temephos 组的顶体反应和获能分别显着增加和减少。与对照组相比，1、10 和 100 μM temephos 组的细胞内三磷酸腺苷水平显着降低。此外，大多数 temephos 组的 PKA 活性和酪氨酸磷酸化显着降低。此外，所有 temephos 组的受精率和早期胚胎发育均显着降低。总之，确定了temephos对男性生育能力有有害影响。因此，在使用前应考虑temephos的生殖毒性。