Effect of atrazine and glyphosate on the reproductive system of female rats : histological and immunohistochemical studies

Abstract EN

Atrazine and Glyphosate are widely used herbicides in Egypt for the control of broad leaf and grassy weeds in agricultural crops.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the deteriorative effects of both previous herbicides on reproductive system of female rats.

for this purpose, forty five female albino rats aged 90 days (sexually mature), body weight about 180±20 g per animal were divided into three groups: Group1: kept without any treatment and considered as control.

Group2: were orally administered atrazine 300 mg/kg bw /day.

Group3: were orally administered glyphosate 500 mg/kg bw /day.

The duration of the experiment was lasted for 45 days; five animals were sacrificed at 15 and 30 days of treatment from each group.

For recovery, five animals from each group remain 15 days without treatment served as withdrawal groups.

Our results demonstrate that these chemicals cause reproductive toxicity in exposed female rats include disruption of the hormones, disturbance of estrous cycle and histopathological changes in ovaries and uterus with decreasing in VEGF expression.

Glyphosate had less deteriorating effect on fertility parameters of the exposed female rats than atrazine as well as the natural recovery rate after withdrawal is higher in glyphosate than atrazine.