Genotoxicity and oxidative stress in Caiman latirostris hatchlings exposed to pesticide formulations and their mixtures during incubation period.

ODETTI, L.; LÓPEZ GONZÁLEZ EVELYN C.; ROMITO MARÍA LAURA; SIMONIELLO, MF; POLETTA, GISELA L.

ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY

ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2020 vol. 193

0147-6513

Agricultural expansion and the consequent use of pesticides lead to the loss and22 fragmentation of natural habitats of several wild species. Then, many species are23 inevitably exposed to a wide amount of pesticide formulations. Glyphosate (GLY)-24 based formulations are the most used herbicide, whereas two of the most employed25 insecticides are chlorpyrifos (CPF) and cypermethrin (CYP). The aim of this study was26 to evaluate genotoxicity, oxidative damage, and the modulation of antioxidants defenses27 in peripheral blood of Caiman latirostris after embryonic exposure to pesticide28 formulations and their mixtures. Pesticides concentrations employed were equivalent to29 those recommended in agricultural practices for application in soybean crops and a half30 of them: GLY: 2% and 1%; CYP: 0.12% and 0.06%; CPF: 0.8% and 0.4%. Two similar31 experiments (E1 and E2) were carried out in consecutive years, where C. latirostris32 eggs were exposed to pesticide formulations separately and in different mixtures33 through application on the incubation material. After hatching, blood samples were34 taken and genotoxicity and oxidative stress was evaluated through the micronucleus test35 (MN), the modified comet assay, the lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels and the activities36 of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) antioxidant enzymes. The results37 indicated the presence of DNA damage, oxidation of purines and pyrimidines, and38 increased MN frequencies in the case of GLY, CYP, and CPF formulations exposure, as39 well as in all the mixtures tested, with respect to the controls groups. Specifically, the40 results observed for the mixtures would indicate independent action or antagonism of141 the components for DNA damage and base oxidation (purines and pyrimidines) and a42 possible potentiation interaction for the FMN in two binary mixtures. However, there43 were not differences regarding lipid peroxidation, the activity of antioxidant enzymes44 and growth parameters. This study proved that the use of pesticide formulations at45 concentrations used in the field generate deleterious genetic effects on this species, then,46 exposure to them could threaten its survival and health status.