Molecular Anatomy of the Blood-Testis Barrier in Male Fertility Decline Attributable to Persistent Organochlorine Pesticide Exposure in Agricultural Communities of Benue State

The blood-testis barrier is a specialised intercellular junction formed by adjacent Sertoli cells that segregates the adluminal compartment of the seminiferous epithelium from the systemic circulation, protecting spermatocytes and spermatids from immune attack and toxic insult. Persistent organochlorine pesticides, including lindane and endosulfan, which are used in Benue State agriculture despite official restrictions, are capable of disrupting blood-testis barrier tight junction proteins including claudin-11, occludin, and ZO-1. This study aims to characterise the molecular anatomy of blood-testis barrier disruption in male Wistar rats chronically exposed to environmentally relevant doses of organochlorine pesticides representative of Benue State agricultural exposure profiles. Sixty adult male Wistar rats will receive oral organochlorine pesticide mixtures for 16 weeks. Testicular tissue will be processed for transmission electron microscopy to visualise Sertoli cell tight junctions ultrastructurally. Claudin-11, occludin, and ZO-1 expression will be quantified by Western blot and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. Spermatogenic quality, including sperm motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation, will provide functional correlates. Bioaccumulation of organochlorine residues in testicular tissue will be confirmed by gas chromatography. Findings will provide a mechanistic molecular anatomical explanation for pesticide-associated male subfertility in Benue State, supporting evidence-based pesticide policy reform.

Keywords: blood-testis barrier, organochlorine pesticides, Sertoli cells, male subfertility, Benue State