PAKISTAN VETERINARY JOURNAL

Pak Vet J, 2026, 46(3) 662-669

Quantitative Prediction of Azoxystrobin-Induced Genetic Damage, Histopathology, Brain and Testicular Disparities in Male Albino Rats

Nouf Aldawood¹, Ahmed Aljazzar^2*, Aiman A. Alsaegh³, Fahad Alhizab⁴, Mahmoud Elalfy⁵, Ahmed MA Meligy⁶, Khalid Alkhodair⁷, Ahmed Ezzat Ahmed^8,9, Yehia Hazzazi¹⁰ and Nady Kh. Elbarbary^11*

¹Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia; ²Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box: 400, Hofuf, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia; ³Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah- Saudi Arabia; ⁴Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box: 400, Hofuf, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia; ⁵Department of Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box: 400, Hofuf, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia; ⁶Department of Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box: 400, Hofuf, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia; ⁷Department of anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box: 400, Hofuf, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia; ⁸Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia ; ⁹Prince Sultan Bin Abdelaziz for Environmental Research and Natural Resources Sustainability Center, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia; ‏¹⁰Department of Biology, College of Science, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; ¹¹Food Hygiene and Control Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aswan University, Aswan 81528, Egypt.

*Corresponding author: Ajazzar@kfu.edu.sa (AA); nadykhairy@vet.aswu.edu.eg (NKE)

Abstract

Azoxystrobin is a widely used broad-spectrum fungicide in agriculture and public health, raising concerns about its potential toxicological effects. This study evaluated the neurotoxic and testicular effects of azoxystrobin in male albino rats by assessing oxidative stress, antioxidant defense mechanism, histopathological alterations and DNA damage at sub-chronic doses. Twenty-eight rats (active, healthy and free of infections) were randomly divided into four groups (n = 7 each). The control group (A0) received a standard diet, while groups A1, A2 and A3 were administered azoxystrobin at doses of 30, 60, and 90mg/kg/day, respectively, for 60 days. No mortality was observed; however, dose-dependent clinical signs such as diarrhea, lethargy, and depression were recorded in rats treated with higher doses (60 and 90 mg/kg/day) after days 30 of experiment. Biochemical analysis revealed a significant increase in oxidative stress markers, including thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), along by a marked reduction within antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH, and POD) in brain and testicular tissues. Histopathological examination showed edema, spermatid necrosis, Leydig cell degeneration, vacuolation, and disruption of the seminiferous epithelium in testes of rats given higher doses of fungicides. Histopathological analyses of brain exhibited microgliosis, neuronal degeneration, necrosis, and inflammatory changes, especially at higher doses. Results on genotoxicity determined by comet assay indicated a significant increase in DNA damage in both brain and testicular cells. Overall, azoxystrobin exposure induced oxidative stress, histopathological damage, and genotoxic effects highlighting its potential neurotoxic and reproductive risks.

To Cite This Article: Aldawood N, Aljazzar A, Alsaegh AA, Alhizab F, Elalfy M, Meligy AMA, Alkhodair K, Ahmed AE, Hazzazi Y and Elbarbary NKH, 2026. Quantitative prediction of azoxystrobin-induced genetic damage, histopathology, brain and testicular disparities in male albino rats. Pak Vet J, 46(3): 662-669. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.055

Abstract

ISSN 0253-8318 (Print)ISSN 2074-7764 (Online)

ISSN 0253-8318 (Print)
ISSN 2074-7764 (Online)