الملخص

Pimaricin (natamycin), a polyene antifungal agent commonly used in food preservation and pharmaceuticals, has raised concerns regarding its systemic toxicity, including potential reproductive effects. Objectives: This study aim to investigate the histological, immunohistochemical, and induced by pimaricin exposure in the testis and epididymis of albino male rats. Material and methods: Twenty adult Wistar albino rats were divided into control and treated groups. The treated group received pimaricin orally at a dose of  0.3 mg/kg/day for 50 consecutive days, while the control group received distilled water. At the end of the experiment, serum samples were collected for hormonal analysis of (LH), and (FSH). Testicular and epididymal tissues were processed for histological evaluation using as well as immunohistochemical staining (MDA). Results Histological examination revealed degenerative & necrosis of spermatic cells with few Leydig cells as well as congestion of interstitial blood vessels accompanied with atrophy of seminiferous tubules with severe increase in interstitial spaces & complete absence of tubules were recorded. The section of epididymis showed intense hyalinization of epididymal lumen. Conclusion: According to our findings, immunohistochemical examination showed that the testis and the epithelial lining the epididymal ducts is showing moderate nuclear and cytoplasmic positivity staining for MDA and control group had mild and mild nuclear and cytoplasmic MDA expression  .