Toxicity and Genotoxicity of Copper Sulphate in Freshwater Planarians and Mice

Abstract

Environmental contamination with copper-containing compounds is significant. Copper sulfate is largely applied in industrial and agricultural processes. To compare the toxicity of compounds between species is fundamental for predicting environmental hazards. The goal of this paper is to compare the toxicity and genotoxicity of copper sulfate between planarians, an early eukaryote, and mice, a mammal with striking similarities with humans. In planarians, copper sulfate induced DNA damages in a dose-related fashion (r = 0.984; p < 0.001) and the higher doses of the compound induced more damage than the controls when evaluated by the comet assay. Doses ten fold lower than the used in acute tests induced significant genotoxicity in cronic tests. Repair studies showed a low repair capability for the acute doses after 24 h. The post-treatment with CuSO4 reduced the repair of the DNA damages generated by the DNA alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). The copper sulfate also induced significant concentration-related influence in planarian regeneration (r = 0.822 and p < 0.001). In mice, a dose of 20.72 mg CuSO4 per kg of body weight induced a significant increase in DNA damage 24 h after the exposure; and the repair was effective after 48 h from the exposure, when evaluated by the comet assay. Results indicate toxicity and genotoxicity as well as repair interference potential for copper sulfate, supporting a possible interference of the metal in the toxicity of environmental pollutants.