Review of Toxicology of Atrazine and Chlorpyrifos on Fish

Dec. 2011

Journal of Northeast Agricultural University (English Edition)

Vol. 18No. 488-92

Review of Toxicology of Atrazine and Chlorpyrifos on Fish WANG Xu, LI Jilong, XING Houjuan, and XU Shiwen* College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China

Abstract˖Atrazine (ATR) and chlorpyrifos (CPF) are widely used in agriculture, but have resulted in a series of toxicological and environmental problems. They were heavily used which have potential threat to fish and rodents. Several recent laboratory studies have shown ATR and CPF could lead to oxidative damage, immunocyte reduced and inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE). In order to clarify the toxicity of ATR and CPF, this paper summarized the adverse effects of ATR and CPF on reproduction, nerve and immune systems in fish. Key words˖atrazine, chlorpyrifos, toxicity CLC number: S482.3

Document code: A

Article ID: 1006-8104(2011)-04-0088-05

Introduction

Properties and Application of ATR and CPF

Nowadays more than 1 400 different pesticide formulations are being used in the environment,

ATR, a triazine herbicide, is photosynthesis II inhi-

mostly in agriculture. In the last 50 years, the use

bitor commonly used to control broadleaf and grassy

of pesticides has greatly increased the quantity and

weeds in crops including corn, sorghum and sugar-

improved the quality of food for the growing world

cane. Its chemical formula is 6-chloro-N-ethyl-N-

[1]

population . However, with increasing the quantity

(1-methylethyl)-1, 3, 5-triazine-2, 4-diamine, and it

of pesticides, they have resulted in the environmental

possesses water solubility (20 mg • L-1) and long half-

pollution. Pesticides can enter water through surface

life in aquatic systems[6-7]. ATR is one of the most

runoff, leaching, and/or erosion. Meanwhile, drift,

commonly used herbicides in the world. It has been

evaporation, and wind erosion can carry pesticide

assessed that the consumption of atrazine amounts

residues into the atmosphere, which can lead to

were between 70 000 and 90 000 tons per year in the

contamination of surface water via precipitation

[2-3]

.

world. Its annual sales in the US are approximately

In the last 40 years, ATR and CPF were heavily

33-36 million kilograms[8].

used for controlling weeds and pests. In China, ATR

  CPF, an organophosphate insecticide, chemical

concentration exceeding the standard for drinking

formula is O-O-diethyl-O-(3, 5, 6 trichloro-2-pyridyl)-

-1

water (3 μg • L ) has also been reported in Guanting reservoir

[4]

[5]

phosphorothioate, is used to control a wide range of

and Taihu Lake . Therefore, researching

pests, such as cutworms, corn rootworms, cockroaches,

toxicity of ATR and CPF becomes more and more

grubs, flea beetles, termites, fire ants and lice. This

important.

compound is applied to different crops including cot-

Received 10 September 2010 WANG Xu (1984-), male, Master, engaged in the research of environmental toxicology. * Corresponding author. XU Shiwen, professor, supervisor of Ph. D candidate, engaged in the research of environmental toxicology and nutritional and metabolic diseases. E-mail: [email protected] &NBJM
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WANG Xu et al. Review of Toxicology of Atrazine and Chlorpyrifos on Fish

·89·

ton, nuts, vegetable and ornamental plants[9]. It has a

explanation for the multiple types of toxic responses.

novel mode of action effected by ingestion, contact

Oruç reported that CPF exposure decreased GST

and acts by phosphorylating acetyl cholinesterase both

activity, and increased SOD enzyme activity up to

at synapse of neurons and in the plasma. At present,

215%-446% in Oreochromis niloticus at 30 days[13].

CPF is still extensively used in Australia, China and

Jin et al. indicated Cu/Zn–SOD, Mn–SOD, CAT and

[10]

USA as an agricultural pesticide .

GPX were up-regulated significantly in the liver when zebrafish were exposed to various concentration (1,

Toxicity of ATR and CPF

10, 100 and 1 000 μg • L-1) of ATR for 14 days[19].

ATR and CPF can be transported to groundwater by

Toxic Effects of ATR and CPF on Reproductive System

infiltration or to surface water with water runoff, thus enter aquatic environment easily. In laboratory, adverse effects of ATR and CPF on fishes were studi-

In recent years, studies have shown that ATR and CPF

ed; LC50 values for many fishes were assayed after

can lead to damage of reproductive system, including

ATR and CPF exposure. For ATR, LC50 values re-

spermatozoa, ovum and gonad abnormalities; reduce

-1

ported by Tomlin were 16 mg • L for bluegill sunfish,

of sperm motility, spermatozoa and ovum counts.

.

Farag et al. indicated the percent morphologically

Phyu et al. stated that LC50 values of ATR in rainbow

normal spermatozoa were affected and sperm motility

-1

-1

76 mg • L for carp, and 4.3 mg • L for guppies

[11]

-1[12]

trout ranged from 4.5 to 8.8 mg • L

. 96 h LC50 values

and count decreased after exposure of 15 and 25

of chlorpyrifos in juvenile and adult of Oreochromis

mg • kg-1 CPF in male mice[20]. Meeker et al.. found that

niloticus were determined to be 98.67 and 154.01

environmental exposure to CPF could be associated

-1

μg • L , respectively, and in mosquito fish was 297

with increased sperm DNA fragmentation[21]. In addi-

μg • L-1[13-14].

tion, researches have reported ATR could convert

 Several recent laboratory studies had shown that

androgens to estrogens, alteration of concentration

environmentally realistic concentration of ATR and

of testoste-rone and 17beta-estradiol in plasma. Sala-

CPF caused significant toxic effects to fish. For ex-

berria et al. studies showed that ATR 200 μg • kg -1

ample, low concentration of ATR (1 μg • L-1) altered ol-

expose decreased testosterone and increased 17beta-

factory-mediated endocrine function in male atlantic

estradiol concentration in plasma of rainbow trout[22].

salmon (Salmo salar) [15]. Xing et al. showed that

  Besides alteration vitality of spermatozoa and

AChE mRNA transcription decreased significantly

ovum, ATR and CPF can reduce the production of

-1

-1

after exposure of ATR (428 μg •L ) and CPF (116 μg •L ) in brain and muscle on common carp at 40 days

[16]

oviposition and increase dead fetuses. Farag et al.

.

found a decreased number of live fetuses and an

Dong et al. indicated that in zebrafish, P450 content

increased number of dead fetuses by CPF 25 mg • kg-1

increased significantly after exposure of ATR at

treatment in female mice[20]. When exposure of ATR

concentration of 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg • L-1 at 10, 15, and

17-20 days on fathead minnow, the total egg produc-

. In addition, in vitro studies

tion was lower (19%-39%), and ATR reduced egg

in fish showed that ATR might affect the secretion

production through alteration of final maturation of

of cortisol, involved in osmoregulation and stress re-

oocytes[23]. Zhou et al. reported that CPF had adverse

sponse[18].

effects on growth and fecundity in earthworm exposed

 Recent studies indicated that the toxic manifestations

to 5 mg • kg-1 CPF after 8 weeks[24]. So, recent studies

induced by ATR and CPF might be associated with the

have shown that ATR and CPF had reproductive toxicity;

enhanced production of ROS, which might provide an

their heavy uses probably reduced the productivity to

20 days, respectively

[17]

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Journal of Northeast Agricultural University (English Edition)

Vol. 18No. 42011

animals. Toxic effects of ATR and CPF on nervous

in female B6C3F1 mice, their results demonstrated

system CPF is known to inhibit AChE, which plays

that ATR exposure was sufficient to alter cell-

an important role in neurotransmission at cholinergic

mediated immune function and disease resistance in

synapses by the rapid hydrolysis of neurotransmitter

female B6C3F1 mice[30]. Another study found that CPF

acetylcholine to choline and acetate, and it can cause

significantly inhibited cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity,

symptoms such as nausea, dizziness and confusion,

and by assayed MTT and LDH, they found that CPF

and even hyperactivity, paralysis, respiratory paralysis

could induce cell death of Jurkat human T cells in a

and death at high concentration exposures. Xing et al.

dose- and time-dependent manner[31]. Otherwise, a

reported the activities of AChE decreased after ex-

research showed that effects of ATR on dendritic cell

[25]

posure of ATR and CPF in brain of common carp .

(DC) and immunotoxic effects of ATR might be due

The similar study was that AChE in brain was inhi-

to perturbations in DC function. Pinchuk et al. reported

bited at 96 h of CPF exposure in mosquito fish

[26]

.

that ATR exposure interfered with the phenotypic and

In addition, some studies indicated that ATR caused

functional maturation of DC, a significant decrease

dopaminergic neurotoxicity manifested by decreased

of surface MHC-I in DC was observed at 1 μmol • L-1

striatal dopamine (DA) levels. Hossain et al. indi-

concentration of ATR. In addition, ATR exposure

[27]

cated a decrease in striatal DA by ATR exposure .

decreased the expression of the costimulatory mole-

 Another pathway of toxic effects of ATR and CPF

cule CD86 and it down-regulated the expression of

on nervous system probably induced the oxidative

CD11b and CD11c accessory molecules and the mye-

damage in brain. For example, Mehta et al. reported

loid developmental marker CD14[32]. Their data suggest-

that levels of H2O2, NO3– and NO2– increased signi-

ed that ATR direct targets DC maturation and that

ficantly in all the three parts of rat brain i.e., fore-,

efficiently remove MHC-I molecules from DC surface

mid- and hind-brain for 3 days or 1 month due to

were likely contribute to immune evasion. In a word,

[28]

exposure of CPF . In addition, CPF exposure caused

ATR and CPF affected the immune systems by da-

decreases in the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH)

mage to immunocyte.

and increases in the levels of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in all the three brain regions[29]. Their studies

Conclusion

clearly demonstrated that the accumulation of ROS in all the brain regions might disturb the normal

Recently, increasing experimental evidence had shown

physiological functions aggravating the toxicity

that reproduction, nerve and immune systems were

symptoms of CPF.

damaged by ATR and CPF exposure on fish and rats, but the mechanism of toxicity to oxidative damage,

Toxic Effects of ATR and CPF on Immune System

immunocyte reduce and gonad abnormalities remain unknown. Therefore, it is necessary to research the mechanisms of toxicity effects on ATR and CPF.

A number of studies reported in the literature suggested that ATR and CPF might be toxic to the immune

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