Abstract
Atrazine (ATZ) is an herbicide commonly detected in groundwater. Several studies have focused on its immunological and endocrine effects on adult Xenopus laevis species. However, we investigated the impact of atrazine on the renal and hepatic biochemistry and histomorphology in adult male frogs. Forty adult male frogs were allocated to four treatment groups (control, one ATZ (0.01 µg/L), two ATZ (200 µg/L) and three ATZ (500 µg/L), 10 animals per group, for 90 days. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and creatinine levels increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the 200 and 500 μg/L groups but malondialdehyde only in the 500 μg/L group (p < 0.05). Histopathological observations of derangement, hypertrophy, vascular congestion and dilation, infiltration of inflammatory cells incursion, apoptosis and hepatocytes cell death were observed with atrazine exposure, mostly in the 500 μg/L group. Additionally, histochemical labelling of caspase-3 in the sinusoidal endothelium was observed in all the treated groups, indicating vascular compromise. Evaluation of renal histopathology revealed degradation and atrophy of the glomerulus, vacuolization, thick loop of Henle tubule epithelial cells devolution and dilation of the tubular lumen. Furthermore, expression of caspase-3 indicates glomerular and tubular apoptosis in atrazine-exposed animals. These findings infer that environmentally relevant atrazine doses (low or high) could induce hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in adult male Xenopus laevis frogs and potentially related aquatic organisms.
Highlights
Atrazine (ATZ) as (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) is a broadspectrum herbicide used extensively for agricultural production and for farming activities around the world for the control of selective pre- and post-emergence weeds [1,2]
The 7seorfu20m levels of MBA in the 500 μg/L ATZ-treated group significantly increased relative to the control group (Figure 1F)
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Summary
Atrazine (ATZ) as (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) is a broadspectrum herbicide used extensively for agricultural production and for farming activities around the world for the control of selective pre- and post-emergence weeds [1,2]. Atrazine studies have been focused on evaluating environmental and ecological toxicity because of the detection of environmentally relevant (0.1 μg/L), lethal and/or sub-lethal concentrations detected as chemical contaminants of rivers, streams and wells, which are common habitats for aquatic organisms and water sources for humans [3,4], and might constitute a public health problem. Toads and the anuran group of amphibians are hugely responsive to ecological pollutants because of their semi-permeable skin and are suitable as bio-indicators for detecting the toxic effects of herbicides [5,6]. The Xenopus laevis has a lifespan of 15 years, there are some concerns as their population is threatened by water pollution
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