Cytogenetic and hematological alterations induced by acute oral exposure of imidacloprid in female mice

Abstract

Imidacloprid (IMD), 1(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl)-N-nitro-2-imidazolidinimine, was administered in female mice to study in vivo cytogenetic (chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and micronucleus assay) and hematological effects. The acute oral LD₅₀ was determined to be 150 mg/kg bw in mice following OECD guidelines using AOT StatPgm425 software. The mice were administered orally with distilled water (negative control); mitomycin C (MMC), 1 mg/kg (positive control) and sub-lethal doses of 37.5 (low), 75.0 (medium) and 112.5 (high) mg/kg bw (25%, 50% and 75% of LD₅₀) of IMD to analyze CAs and hematological effects after 24 h, whereas micronucleus test (MT) after 48 h. The genotoxicity analysis revealed that selected test doses of IMD – medium and high doses – induced significantly mitotic inhibition (p < 0.01), CAs (p < 0.01) and at high dose micronucleus (MN) formation (p < 0.05). Significant changes in red blood cell (RBC; p < 0.01), hemoglobin (Hb; p < 0.01) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; p < 0.001) were observed, except WBC in which significant increase (p < 0.001) was observed. Present observation substantiates overall significant dose dependent genotoxic potential (p < 0.05; r = 0.98) of IMD. Precautions should be taken to minimize possible risk to exposed farmers of the state of Haryana (India) – an agrarian economy.

Keywords:

• Bone marrow cells
• chromosomal aberrations
• genotoxicity
• micronuclei
• imidacloprid
• mitomycin C

Declaration of interest

The experiments outlined in the present work comply with current existing laws. The authors declare that they do not have conflicts of interest.

This research was funded as Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship and Major Research Project by University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India.