Abstract

The effects of atrazine herbicide in male Poecilia sphenops were studied. The testes and liver cytosolic
testicular enzyme and antioxidant enzyme activity were measured. Poecilia sphenops was exposed to 3 sub
lethal concentrations (1.25, 2.5 and 5mg/L) of atrazine for 30days and control was also maintained. The
activities of testicular functional enzyme ALP, ACP, SDH, LDH, and G6PDH and antioxidant enzyme CAT,
SOD, GSH, GST and LPO levels were altered in treated groups compared with that of the control. The
histopathological changes like cloudy swelling of hepatocytes, hepatocytes with some pyknotic nuclei, lipoid
vacuoles and necrosis were observed in liver, whereas in testes alterations like tubular damages, shrinkage,
degeneration, necrosis, condensed spermatogonium, damaged seminiferous tubules and damaged tubular wall
were noticed. This study demonstrates that atrazine induces oxidative stress in terms of enhanced enzyme
activity and testicular enzyme activity in Poecilia sphenops. Histological observations revealed well organized
structure in all the sectioned tissues of organs examined and comparison to control. Atrazine has toxicity to the
reproductive system in male Poecilia sphenops.