Two Formulations of the Agricultural Pesticide Adjuvant, Toximul™, Reduce the Glycogen Content of HepG2 Cells

Abstract

Young mice exposed dermally to the Toximul™ (Tox) class of agricultural pesticide adjuvants have reduced levels of hepatic glycogen, a marker of subclinical toxicity. The present study determined whether these effects on glycogen also occurred in cultured HepG2 cells. Exposure (3 hr) to Tox resulted in significant, concentration-dependent glycogen reductions (up to 70%) relative to control values (76 ± 3 μg glycogen/mg protein). These reductions did not appear to be due to loss of cell viability, and were reversible with Tox removal. Two different formulations of Tox (3409F and MP-A) differed significantly in the magnitudes of glycogen reduction in the HepG2 cells.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors thank Dr. C. Sinal for providing the HepG2 cells. This study was funded by NSERC and the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation.