Global Veterinaria 11 (1): 01-13, 2013 ISSN 1992-6197 © IDOSI Publications, 2013 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.gv.2013.11.1.73228 Corresponding Author: Mariam G. Eshak, Department ofCell Biology, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt. Tel: +201005450909, Fax: +202-33900500. 1 Effect of Ozone-Treated Aflatoxin Contaminated Diets on DNA Damage, Expression of Androgen and Androgen Receptor Genes and Histopathological Changes in Japanese Quail Mariam G. Eshak, Mohamed M. Deabes, Abdel Razik H. Farrag, 1 2 3 Ibrahim M. Farag and Farid K. R. Stino 1 4 Department of Cell Biology, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt 1 Food Toxicology and Contaminants Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt 2 Department of Pathology, National Research Center, Dokki Cairo, Egypt 3 Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Egypt 4 Abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the effect of the ozone treatment on the toxicity problems induced by contaminated feed with aflatoxin B (AFB ). The genetic and histopathological changes 1 1 in Japanese quail were studied. Sixty, three-week old male quail were randomly distributed into 6 experimental groups (10 birds per group). These birds were fed the following diets for three weeks; 1) basal diet (control); 2) basal diet treated with ozone for 5 minutes, short duration, (SD diet); 3) basal diet treated for 15 minutes, long duration, (LD diet); 4) basal diet contaminated with aflatoxin AFB 1mg/kg diet (AF diet); 5) AF diet treated for 1, a short duration with ozone (AFSD diet); 6) AF diet treated for a long duration with ozone (AFLD diet). The concentration of ozone in all treatments was 40 ppm for the short and long durations. The treated samples were analyzed for aflatoxin B by immune-affinity column (IAC) clean-up and evaluated by high liquid 1 chromatography (HPLC). Compared to the control group the results showed that quail fed the diet contaminated with aflatoxin (AF diet) had significantly higher DNA damage (micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes formation and DNA fragmentation) and significantly lower expression patterns of androgen gene (AN) and its receptor (ANR). Histopathological examination revealed severe lesions of liver and testis tissues as compared to the control group. Moreover, the reduction in expression of AN and ANR was accompanied by reduction in testes weight. Feeding the quail AFSD or AFLD diets resulted in a lower DNA damage and enhancement in the expression patterns of AN and ANR genes. Less prominent histopathological changes and remarkable amelioration in liver and testis tissues, compared to quail fed diet contaminated with aflatoxin alone were also observed. The enhancement in the expression levels of AN and ANR genes, due to ozone treatments, was accompanied by improvement in testes weight. The quail fed diets treated with ozone for five minutes showed significantly more genetic and histopathological improvement as well as testes weight as compared to quail fed contaminated diets treated with ozone for 15 minutes. Furthermore, the quail fed basal diets (without aflatoxin B contamination) treated for 5 minutes with ozone had more improvements in its genetic and histopathological 1 parameters as well as testes weights than the control group. It can be concluded that ozone treatment as an oxidizing agent for five minutes was a best duration for aflatoxin disinfection. It could be useful in food industry for the detoxification of toxic chemicals and destruction of dangerous micro-organisms. Key words: Ozone Aflatoxin HPLC DNA Damage androgen Gene RT-PCR And Histopathology INTRODUCTION under moist conditions by several fungi, mainly species The contamination of animal feed with aflatoxin and various species of Pencillium, Rhizopus, Mucor and represents a worldwide problem for farmers. These toxins Streptomyces [1, 2]. Aspergillus flavus and A. paraistucus are produced on living and stored plants particularly are common in most soils and are usually involved in of Aspergillus (A. flavus, A. parasiticus and A. nomius)