Atrazine effects on the reproductive and digestive function of the Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata).

BACH N; MANZANOS N; FERNÁNDEZ N; SOMOZA G; CHEDIACK, JG; CID F.

Mar del Plata

Congreso; VIII Congreso Argentino de la Sociedad de Toxicología y Química Ambiental (SETAC, Capítulo Argentino); 2022

SETAC

Atrazine(ATZ) is a widely used herbicide worldwide. It is the second most used herbicidein Argentina and environmental levels have been reported in the country. ATZ adverselyaffects non-target organisms, its role as endocrine disruptor affectingreproduction of amphibians have been well documented. In birds, a few reports showeffects on reproduction, growth, hematological parameters, between others. Butthere is no information about ATZ effects in native species, and its effect onthe digestive physiology are unknown. The objective of this study was toelucidate how ATZ affects reproductive and digestive function in males of Z. auricalata by evaluating variationsin gonadosmatic index (GSI) and digestive enzymes activity. Additionally, hematocrit,body mass, organ mass, ALAD activity and water intake were evaluated. We used threeindependent groups (n=6), two groups were exposed during 15 days to 25 mg/kgand 250 mg/kg ATZ diluted in corn oil, administered by intermittent gavage, andone control group that were administered only with corn oil without ATZ. Afterexposure, body mass, blood extraction and removal of intestine, stomach, liver,heart and gonads were performed at the same time, during morning, to avoideffect of circadian rhythm. All organ masses were referred to body mass. ALADactivity was determined in blood, and intestinal enzymatic activity of sucrose-isomaltase(SI), maltase-glucoamylase (MG) and N-aminopeptidase (APN) was determined inproximal, medial and distal portions. RM-ANOVA was performed for digestive enzymes,hematocrit, ALAD and water intake and one-way ANOVA for body and organ masses (Tukeypost-hoc test, p < 0.05). Data that failed to meet ANOVA assumptions wereanalyzed by Kruskall-Wallis test. No effects were observed for body and organmasses (p > 0.05) between treatments, except for GSI (p < 0.05) thatresulted higher in doves exposed to 250 mg ATZ/kg. For SI, MG and APN, therewere no differences (p > 0.05) between the control group and those treatedwith ATZ. ALAD activity, hematocrit and water intake did not show significantdifferences (p > 0.05) between treatments. The increment in GSI for ATZexposed doves are in line with previous reports and could be indicative of apotential endocrine disruption. Further studies involving testes histology and circulatinglevels of steroid hormones are needed to understand how ATZ are affecting Z. auriculata. Supported by UNSL-PROICO2-0820 and PICT2016-0595 to FDCid.