A Review on the Effects of Atrazine on Male Rat Reproductive System Cytoarchitecture, Steroidogenesis and Oxidative Pathway

Atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) is an active component of herbicides used worldwide in agriculture. Atrazine is an endocrine disruptor, capable of interfering with the delicate hormonal balance necessary for normal reproductive function. Despite numerous studies on atrazine's impact on male reproduction, significant gaps remain, particularly concerning the male genital tract beyond the testes. Therefore, we reviewed the effects of atrazine on the entire male reproductive system to understand the complexity of its actions. Adverse effects of atrazine on the morphophysiology of male reproductive organs, including the testes, efferent ductules, epididymis, accessory glands, and external genitalia, all crucial for male fertility, have been found. Atrazine disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, affects key enzymes in steroidogenesis, induces oxidative stress, and consequently disrupts spermatogenesis. Moreover, intergenerational effects are evident, with in utero exposure leading to reproductive abnormalities in offspring, and transgenerational effects have also been observed. Effects on rodent prostate and male external genitalia are concerning, considering that higher incidence of prostate cancer, cryptorchidism and hypospadias, potentially related to atrazine exposure have also been described. Given that atrazine is a globally used endocrine disruptor, further studies are required to clarify its potential involvement in these developmental disorders. Future systematic studies using environmentally relevant doses of atrazine, encompassing the entire reproductive system and its control by the HPG axis, are crucial for a thorough risk assessment.