Triazinone herbicide metribuzin induced acute liver injury: A study of animal model

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the acute toxicity effect of metribuzin at low dose on liver of mother rabbits and its fetus. Methods: Pregnant female rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus were divided into three groups (n=5). The first group of non-treated pregnancy rabbits served as control; the second group of pregnancy rabbits were treated with 1/100 LD50 of metribuzin and the third group of pregnancy rabbits were treated with 1/50 LD50 of metribuzin. Metribuzin was added in their drinking water for 60 d before and during pregnancy. Levels of liver malondialdehyde, liver glutathione S transferase, serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase and serum glutamic- pyruvic transaminase were determined. Liver reduced glutathione level was also determined by a colorimetric method. And hepatic homogenate was analyzed by HPLC analysis to determine the existence of traces of metribuzin. Results: Results revealed a significant increase in level of liver malondialdehyde, glutathione S transferase, serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activities in mother and fetuses rabbits of both metribuzin treatment groups as compared to the control group. However the level of reduced glutathione was decreased in mother and fetuses rabbits of both groups treated with metribuzin compared to control group. Also, the results obtained by HPLC technique showed the presence of trace metribuzin in liver cells of mothers and fetuses rabbits of the both metribuzin treated groups. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study shows that exposure to metribuzin at low concentrations causes a acute toxicity in liver of mother rabbits and its fetus, also the trace of the metribuzin detected in the liver is the origin of possible malformation of the fetuses or abortion of the rabbits.