Histopathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular investigation of atrazine toxic effect on some organs of adult male albino rats with a screening of Acacia nilotica as a protective trial

Atrazine (ATZ) is a widely used herbicide; however, it has deleterious effects. The current study aimed to investigate the potential toxic effect of ATZ as a neuroendocrine disruptor on the cerebellum and thyroid gland and on the liver as a detoxifying organ. We examined the ability of ATZ to induce oxidative stress and subsequent apoptosis in these organs. Moreover, we investigated the potential protective effect of Acacia nilotica, because of its potent antioxidant activity. Thus, our study was carried out on 40 adult male albino rats that were divided equally into 4 groups (10 rats/each group). The first group received distilled water, while the second group received ATZ dissolved in corn oil at 200 mg/kg body weight/day by stomach gavage. The third group was treated orally by ATZ (200 mg/kg body weight/day) plus Acacia nilotica (400 mg/kg/day). Group IV received Acacia nilotica only at a dose (400 mg/kg/day). After successive 30 days of the experiment, blood and tissue samples were collected from all groups. Our findings revealed the ability of ATZ to induce toxic effects was observed microscopically in the form of degenerated neurons and vacuolated neuropil of the cerebellum, degenerated hepatocytes, and vacuolation of the follicular cells of the thyroid gland. Furthermore, ATZ significantly elevated AST, ALT, and ALP serum levels and TB concentration, while decreased GSH. DNA fragmentation% and activated caspase-3 expression significantly increased after ATZ exposure. Interestingly, Acacia nilotica administration was able to partially protect the examined organs against the toxic effect of ATZ exposure.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the potential toxic effects of the herbicide Atrazine (ATZ) on the cerebellum, thyroid gland, and liver, as well as the protective effects of Acacia nilotica. The findings showed that ATZ caused degeneration and vacuolation in the examined organs, increased liver enzyme levels and DNA fragmentation, and decreased antioxidant levels. However, Acacia nilotica administration partially protected against these toxic effects.