. Comet assay in gill cells of Prochilodus lineatus exposed in vivo to cypermethrin

LOTESTE, A.; POLETTA, G; GIGENA, F; PARMA, M.J.; KLEINSORGE, E. C.; SIMONIELLO, M. F.

PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY

ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE

Año: 2013 p. 385 - 390

0048-3575

Agricultural chemicals can induce genetic alterations on aquatic organisms that have been associatedwith effects on growth, reproduction and population dynamics. The evaluation of DNA damage in fishusing the comet assay (CA) frequently involves the utilization of erythrocytes. However, epithelial gillcells (EGC) can be more sensitive, as they are constantly dividing and in direct contact with potentiallystressing compounds from the aquatic environment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate (1)the sensitivity and suitability of epithelial gill cells of Prochilodus lineatus in response to different genotoxicagents through the application of the CA, (2) the induction of DNA damage in this cell populationafter in vivo exposure to cypermethrin. Baseline value of the CA damage index (DI) for EGC of juvenileP. lineatus was 144.68 ± 5.69. Damage increased in a dose-dependent manner after in vitro exposure ofEGC to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and H2O2, two known genotoxic agents. In vivo exposure of fishto cypermethrin induced a significant increase in DNA DI of EGC at 0.150 lg/l (DI: 239.62 ± 6.21) and0.300 lg/l (270.63 ± 2.09) compared to control (150.25 ± 4.38) but no effect was observed at 0.075 lg/l(168.50 ± 10.77). This study shows that EGC of this species are sensitive for the application of the CA,demonstrating DNA damage in response to alkylation (MMS), oxidative damage (H2O2), and to the insecticidecypermethryn. These data, together with our previous study on DNA damage induction on erythrocytesof this species, provides useful information for future work involving biomonitoring in regionswhere P. lineatus is naturally exposed to pesticides and other genotoxic agents.