Atrazine and mancozeb induce excitotoxicity and cytotoxicity in primary cultures of mouse cerebellar cortex

ABSTRACT

This work aimed to determine the neurotoxicity of atrazine and mancozeb by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) evaluation of neurotransmitters, and morphologically by flow cytometry and ultrastructural analysis using transmission electron microscopy of primary cultures of mouse cerebellar cortex. The latter revealed mitochondrial damage, synaptic alterations, and neuroinflammation, while neurochemical results showed augmented release of excitatory neurotransmitters with a consequent increase in excitation/inhibition ratio of atrazine- and mancozeb-treated cultures. This study shows that atrazine and mancozeb exposure may lead to neuronal damage associated with excitotoxicity and cytotoxicity.

KEYWORDS:

• Atrazine
• mancozeb
• excitotoxicity
• cytotoxicity
• primary mouse cerebellar cultures
• excitation/inhibition ratio

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Emilitza Labarca, Leisalba Zavala, and José Beluardi Sanchez for their excellent technical assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This investigation was supported by grants from the Council of Scientific, Humanistic, Technological and Artistic Development of the University of Los Andes [grant number CDCHTA-ULA, CVI-ADG-M 08-95-03], Mérida, Venezuela.