10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

Atrazine is a widely used herbicide and an environmental contaminant of One Health concern due to its adverse effects on ecosystem, animal, and human health. Exposure to atrazine has been associated with impaired male fertility through oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine disruption, and apoptosis. Nigella sativa oil (NSO) possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may protect against toxicant-induced reproductive damage. This study investigated the time-dependent protective effects of NSO on atrazine-induced reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats. Adult male Wistar rats were allocated into six groups: control, atrazine-treated (28 and 56 days), NSO-treated, and NSO plus atrazine-treated (28 and 56 days). Semen quality was assessed using sperm motility, count, and morphology. Oxidative stress biomarkers including malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were evaluated. Hormonal and inflammatory responses were assessed using testosterone and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Testicular tissues were subjected to histological and immunohistochemical analyses fo r PCNA, Bcl-2, and Ki67. Bioinformatics tools were used to explore molecular pathways associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and reproductive function. Atrazine exposure significantly impaired semen quality. Sperm motility decreased from 68.0% in controls to 3.7% and 13.0% following 28 and 56 days of exposure, respectively. Sperm count declined from 32.0 to 7.9 and 22.8 million/mL, while normal morphology decreased from 93.6% to 75.0% and 83.8%. Atrazine-induced reproductive dysfunction was accompanied by alterations in oxidative stress markers, inflammatory mediators, and testosterone levels. NSO co-administration improved semen parameters, restored hormonal balance, attenuated inflammatory responses, and modulated oxidative stress pathways, with the strongest protective effects observed after 56 days of treatment. NSO mitigates atrazine-induced reproductive toxicity through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. These findings support its potential as a therapeutic intervention against environmentally induced male infertility and highlight the importance of One Health approaches to reproductive well-being.