Abstract:Objective:To investigate the effect of mancozeb on T-type calcium currents(ICaT) in spermatogenic cells. Methods: Ca2+ currents were obtained in acutely dissociated mouse spermatogenic cells by the whole-cell patch clamp technique and the effects of mancozeb on ICaT were observed. Results:Mancozeb at the concentrations of 10, 20, 40, 80 and 120 μmol/L significantly inhibited ICaT in the mouse spermatogenic cells, with the K50 value of 35.60 μmol/L and the inhibition rates of mancozeb were(9.93±0.90)%,(20.93±2.50)%,(25.92±2.80)%,(42.64±3.10)% and (56.80±3.20)%, respectively(n=6, P < 0.05). Mancozeb of 120 μmol/L significantly changed the activation and inactivation of ICaT: the half activation potential(V1/2a) and the activation steepness factor (κa) from (-47.09±1.05)mV and (8.67±0.78)mV to (-51.46±0.84)mV and (10.56±0.619)mV, respectively(n=5, P < 0.05); the half inactivation potential (V1/2i) and the inactivation steepness factor (κi) from (-62.96±3.36)mV and (9.93±1.41)mV to(-64.11±5.55)mV and (13.64±1.95)mV, respectively (n=5, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Mancozeb has significant inhibitory effects on ICaT in mouse spermatogenic cells with concentration dependence.